3.  /3./Z.. 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


M 


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Presented  by  c3Vi<2/  CK\J^r\  O 'C~. 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


West  African  Folk  Lore  Tales 

By  ^ 

ROBERT  H.  NASSAU 

Author  of“Fetichism  in  West  Africa 
“ The  Youngest  King  ” etc. 


r\£ 

MAR  1 3 1912 


& 


&08iGAL 


RICHARD  G.  BADGER 

THE  GORHAM  PRESS 


BOSTON 


Copyright  1912  by  Richard  G.  Badger 
All  rights  reserved 


The  Gorham  Press,  Boston,  TJ.  S.  A. 


PREFACE 


THE  typical  native  African  Ekano  or  legend  is 
marked  by  repetition.  The  same  incidents  occur 
to  a succession  of  individuals ; monotony  being  pre- 
vented by  a variation  in  the  conduct  of  those 
individuals,  as  they  reveal  their  weakness  or 
stupidity,  artifice  or  treachery. 

Narrators,  while  preserving  the  original  plot  and  characters 
of  a Tale,  vary  it,  and  make  it  graphic  by  introducing  objects 
known  and  familiar  to  their  audience.  These  inconsistencies 
do  not  interfere  with  belief  or  offend  the  taste  of  a people 
with  whom  even  the  impossible  is  not  a bar  to  faith;  rather, 
the  inconsistency  sharpens  their  enjoyment  of  the  story. 

Surprise  must  not  be  felt  at  the  impossibility  of  some  of  the 
situations;  e.  g .,  the  swallowing  by  an  animal  of  his  wife, 
baggage  and  household  furniture,  as  a means  of  hiding  them. 
The  absurdity  of  such  situations  is  one  of  the  distinctive 
attractions  to  the  minds  of  the  excited  listeners. 

Variations  of  the  same  Tale,  as  told  in  different  Tribes, 
were  inevitable  among  a people  whose  language  was  not 
written  until  within  the  last  hundred  years;  the  Tales  having 
been  transmitted  verbally,  from  generation  to  generation, 
for,  probably,  thousands  of  years.  As  to  their  antiquity.  I 
believe  these  Tales  to  be  of  very  ancient  origin.  No  argu- 
ment must  be  taken  against  them  because  of  the  internal 
evidence  of  allusion  to  modern  things,  or  implements,  or 
customs  of  known  modern  date;  e.  g.f  “cannon,”  “tables,” 
“steamships,”  cte.,  etc.  Narrators  constantly  embellish 
by  novel  additions;  e.  g .,  where,  in  the  original  story,  a 
character  used  a spear,  the  narrator  may  substitute  a pistol. 

Almost  all  these  Tales  locate  themselves  in  supposed  pre- 
historic times,  when  Beasts  and  Human  Beings  are  asserted 
to  have  lived  together  with  social  relations  in  the  same 

3 


4 


PREFACE 


community.  An  unintended  concession  to  the  claims  of 
some  Evolutionists! 

The  most  distinctive  feature  of  these  Tales  is  that,  while 
the  actors  are  Beasts,  they  are  speaking  and  living  as  Human 
Beings,  acting  as  a beast  in  human  environment;  and,  in- 
stantly, in  the  same  sentence,  acting  as  a human  being  in  a 
beast’s  environment.  This  must  constantly  be  borne  in 
mind,  or  the  action  of  the  story  will  become  not  only  unrea- 
sonable but  utterly  inexplicable. 

The  characters  in  the  stories  relieve  themselves  from 
difficult  or  dangerous  situations  by  invoking  the  aid  of  a 
powerful  personal  fetish-charm  known  as  “Ngalo”;  a fetish 
almost  as  valuable  as  Aladdin’s  Lamp  of  the  Arabian  Nights. 
And  yet,  with  inconsistency,  notwithstanding  this  aid,  the 
actors  are  often  suffering  from  many  small  evils  of  daily 
human  life.  These  inconsistencies  are  another  feature  of 
the  Ekano  that  the  listeners  enjoy  as  the  spice  of  the  story. 

From  internal  evidences,  I think  that  the  local  sources  of 
these  Tales  wTere  Arabian,  or  at  least  under  Arabic,  and 
perhaps  even  Egyptian,  influences.  (Observe  the  prefix, 
Ra,  a contraction  of  Rera  equals  father,  a title  of  honor,  as 
“Lord,”  or  “Sir,”  or  “Master,”  in  names  of  dignitaries; 
e.  g.  Ra-Marange,  Ra-Mborakinda,  Ra-Meses.) 

This  is  consistent  with  the  fact  that  there  is  Arabic  blood 
in  the  Bantu  Negro.  The  invariable  direction  to  which  the 
southwest  coast  tribes  point,  as  the  source  of  their  ancestors, 
is  northeast.  Such  an  ethnologist  as  Sir  H.  H.  Johnston 
traces  the  Bantu  stream  southward  on  the  east  coast  to  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  then  turns  it  northward  on  the 
west  coast  to  the  equator  and  as  far  as  the  fourth  degree  of 
north  latitude,  the  very  region  from  which  I gathered  these 
stories. 

Only  a few  men,  and  still  fewer  women,  in  any  com- 
munity, are  noted  as  skilled  narrators.  They  are  the  literati. 

The  public  never  weary  of  hearing  the  same  Tales  repeated; 
like  our  own  civilized  audiences  at  a play  running  for  a 
hundred  or  more  nights.  They  are  made  attractive  by  the 
dramatic  use  of  gesture,  tones,  and  startling  exclamations. 

The  occasions  selected  for  the  renditions  are  nights,  after 
the  day’s  works  are  done,  especially  if  there  be  visitors  to  be 
entertained.  The  places  chosen  are  the  open  village  street. 


PREFACE 


5 


or,  in  forest  camps  where  almost  all  the  population  of  a vil- 
lage go  for  a week’s  work  on  their  cutting  of  new  plantations; 
or  for  hunting;  or  for  fishing  in  ponds.  The  time  for  these 
camps  is  in  one  of  the  two  dry  seasons:  where  the  booths 
erected  are  not  for  protection  against  rain,  but  for  a little 
privacy,  for  the  warding  off  of  insects,  birds  and  small  ani- 
mals, and  for  the  drying  of  meats.  At  such  times,  most  of 
the  adults  go  off  during  the  day  for  fishing;  or,  if  for  hunting, 
only  the  men;  the  children  being  guarded  at  their  plays  in 
the  camp  by  the  older  women,  who  are  kept  occupied  with 
cooking,  and  with  the  drying  of  meats.  At  night,  all  gather 
around  the  camp-fire;  and  the  Tales  are  told  with,  at  inter- 
vals, accompaniment  of  drum;  and  parts  of  the  plot  are 
illustrated  by  an  appropriate  song,  or  by  a short  dance,  the 
platform  being  only  the  earth,  and  the  scenery  the  forest 
shadows  and  the  moon  or  stars. 

The  Bantu  Language  has  very  many  dialects,  having  the 
same  grammatical  construction,  but  differing  in  their 
vocabulary.  The  name  of  the  same  animal  therefore  differs 
in  the  three  typical  Tribes  mentioned  in  these  Tales;  e.  g., 
Leopard,  in  Mpongwe,  equals  Njega;  in  Benga,  equals  Nja; 
and  in  Fang,  equals  Nze. 


PRONUNCIATION 

In  all  the  dialects  of  the  Bantu  language,  consonants  are 
pronounced,  as  in  English;  except  that  g is  always  hard. 

The  vowels  are  pronounced  as  in  the  following  English 
equivalent : — 

a as  in  father  e.  <7.,  Kabala 
a as  in  awe  e.  g.,  Nja. 
e as  in  they  e.  g.,  Ekaga. 
e as  in  met  e.  g .,  Njega. 
i as  in  machine  e.  g.,  Njina. 
o as  in  note  e.  g .,  Kombe. 
u as  in  rule  e.  g .,  Kuba. 

A before  y is  pronounced  ai  as  a diphthong,  e.  g .,  Asaya. 
Close  every  syllable  with  a vowel,  e.  g .,  Ko-ngo.  Where 
two  or  more  consonants  begin  a syllable,  a slight  vowel 
sound  may  be  presupposed,  e.  g .,  Ngweya,  as  if  iNgweya. 

Ng  has  the  nasal  sound  of  ng  in  “ finger,  ” as  if  fing-nger, 
(not  as  in  “ singer/’)  e.  g.,  Mpo-ngwe. 


6 


CONTENTS 


Part  First 
M pong  we  Tribe 

TALE  PAGE 

1 Do  not  Trust  your  Friend 13 

2 Leopard’s  Hunting-Camp 18 

3 Tests  of  Death:  1st  Version 25 

2nd  Version 27 

4 Tasks  done  for  a Wife;  and,  The  Giant  Goat 30 

5 A Tug-of-War 37 

6 Agenda:  Rat’s  Play  on  a Name 41 

7 “Nuts  are  Eaten  Because  of  Angangwe”:  A Pro- 

verb   49 

8 Who  are  Crocodile’s  Relatives? 53 

9 Who  is  King  of  Birds?  and,  Why  Chickens  live 

with  Mankind 54 

10  “Njiwo  Died  of  Sleep:”  A Proverb 58 

11  Which  is  the  Fattest: — Manatus,  Hog,  or  Oyster?  60 

12  Why  Mosquitoes  Buzz 62 

13  Unkind  Criticism 63 

14  The  Suitors  of  Princess  Gorilla 65 

15  Leopard  of  the  Fine  Skin 68 

16  Why  the  Plantain-Stalk  Bears  but  One  Bunch.  ...  76 

Part  Second 
Benga  Tribe 

1 Swine  Talking 81 

2 Crocodile 82 

3 Origin  of  the  Elephant 82 

4 Leopard’s  Marriage  Journey 85 

7 


8 


CONTENTS 


TALE  PAGE 

5 Tortoise  in  a Race 95 

6 Goat’s  Tournament 99 

7 Why  Goats  Became  Domestic 100 

8 Igwana’s  Forked  Tongue 103 

9 What  Caused  their  Deaths? 106 

10  A Quarrel  about  Seniority 109 

11  The  Magic  Drum 113 

12  The  Lies  of  Tortoise 121 

13  “Death  Begins  by  Some  One  Person”:  A Proverb. . 126 

14  Tortoise  and  the  Bojabi  Tree 129 

15  The  Suitors  of  Njambo’s  Daughter 134 

16  Tortoise,  Dog,  Leopard,  and  the  Njabi  Fruit 140 

17  A Journey  for  Salt 145 

18  A Plea  for  Mercy 149 

19  The  Deceptions  of  Tortoise 153 

20  Leopard’s  Hunting  Companions 159 

21  Is  the  Bat  a Bird  or  a Beast? 163 

22  Dog,  and  his  Human  Speech,  1st  Version 165 

2nd  Version 168 

23  The  Savior  of  the  Animals 173 

24  Origin  of  the  Ivory  Trade,  1st  Version 177 

2nd  Version 184 

25  Dog  and  his  False  Friend  Leopard 189 

26  A Trick  for  Vengeance 192 

27  Not  My  Fault! 195 

28  Do  not  Impose  on  the  Weak 196 

29  Borrowed  Clothes 198 

30  The  Story  of  a Panic 200 

31  A Family  Quarrel 201 

32  The  Giant  Goat 202 

33  The  Fights  of  Mbuma-Tyetye;  and,  An  Origin  of 

Leopard 208 

34  A Snake’s  Skin  Looks  like  a Snake 226 

Part  Third 
Fang  Tribe 

1 Candor 233 

2 Which  is  the  Better  Hunter,  an  Eagle  or  a Leopard?  234 


CONTENTS 


9 


TALE  PAGE 

3 A Lesson  in  Evolution 234 

4 Parrot  Standing  on  One  Leg 235 

5 A Question  of  Right  of  Inheritance 237 

6 Tortoise  Covers  His  Ignorance 238 

7 A Question  as  to  Age 239 

8 Abundance:  A Play  on  the  Meaning  of  a Word.  . . 240 

9 An  Oath:  With  a Mental  Reservation 242 

10  The  Treachery  of  Tortoise 243 

11  A Chain  of  Circumstances 245 


PART  FIRST 

Mpongwe 

FOREWORD 

The  following  sixteen  Tales  were  narrated  to  me,  many 
years  ago,  by  two  members  of  the  Mpongwe  tribe  (one  now 
dead)  at  the  town  of  Libreville,  Gaboon  river,  equatorial 
West  Africa.  Both  of  them  were  well-educated  persons,  a 
man  and  a woman.  They  chose  legends  that  were  current 
in  their  own  tribe.  They  spoke  in  Mpongwe;  and,  in  my 
English  rendition,  I have  retained  some  of  their  native  idioms. 
As  far  as  I am  aware  none  of  these  legends  have  ever  been 
printed  in  English,  excepting  Tale  5,  a version  of  which 
appeared  in  a British  magazine  from  a writer  in  Kamerun, 
after  I had  heard  it  at  Gaboon.  Also,  excepting  Tale  14. 
It  appeared,  in  another  form,  more  than  fifty  years  ago,  in 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  L.  Wilson’s  “Western  Africa.”  But  my  narra- 
tor was  not  aware  of  that,  when  he  told  it  to  me. 


U 


TALE  1 


Do  Not  Trust  Your  Friend 
Place 

Country  of  the  Animals 
Persons 


Njega  (Leopard)  Nyare  (Ox) 

Ntori  (Wild  Rat)  Ngowa  (Hog) 

Ra-Marange  (Medicine  Man)  Nkambi  (Antelope) 
Leopard’s  Wife;  and  others 

NOTE 

A story  of  the  treachery  of  the  Leopard  as  matched  by  the 
duplicity  of  the  Rat. 

In  public  mourning  for  the  dead,  it  is  the  custom  for  the 
nearest  relative  or  dearest  friend  to  claim  the  privilege  of 
sitting  closest  to  the  corpse,  and  nursing  the  head  on  his  or 
her  lap. 


At  a time  long  ago,  the  Animals  were  living  in  the  Forest 
together.  Most  of  them  were  at  peace  with  each  other. 
But  Leopard  was  discovered  to  be  a bad  person.  All  the 
other  animals  refused  to  be  friendly  with  him.  Also,  Wild 
Rat,  a small  animal,  was  found  out  to  be  a deceiver. 

One  day,  Rat  went  to  visit  Leopard,  who  politely  gave 
him  a chair,  and  Rat  sat  down.  “Mbolo!”  “Ai,  Mbolo!” 
each  saluted  to  the  other.  Leopard  said  to  his  visitor, 
“What’s  the  news?”  Rat  replied,  “Njega!  news  is  bad. 

13 


14 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


In  all  the  villages  I passed  through,  in  coming  today,  your 
name  is  only  ill-spoken  of,  people  saying,  ‘Njega  is  bad! 
Njegft  is  bad!’  ” 

Leopard  replies,  “Yes,  you  do  not  lie.  People  say  truly 
that  Njegii  is  bad.  But,  look  you,  Ntori,  I,  Njega,  am  an 
evil  one:  but  my  badness  comes  from  other  animals.  Be- 
cause, when  I go  out  to  visit,  there  is  no  one  who  salutes  me. 
When  anyone  sees  me,  he  flees  with  fear.  But,  for  what 
does  he  fear  me?  I have  not  vexed  him.  So,  I pursue  the 
one  that  fears  me.  I want  to  ask  him,  ‘Why  do  you  fear 
me?’  But,  when  I pursue  it,  it  goes  on  fleeing  more  rapidly. 
So,  I become  angry,  wrath  rises  in  my  heart,  and  if  I overtake 
it,  I kill  it  on  the  spot.  One  reason  why  I am  bad  is  that. 
If  the  animals  would  speak  to  me  properly,  and  did  not  flee 
from  me,  then,  Ntori,  I would  not  kill  them.  See!  you, 
Ntori,  have  I seized  you?”  Rat.  replied,  “No.”  Then 
Leopard  said,  “Then,  Ntori,  come  near  to  this  table,  that 
we  may  talk  well.  ” 

Rat,  because  of  his  subtlety  and  caution,  when  he  took  the 
chair  given  him  on  his  arrival,  had  placed  it  near  the  door. 

Leopard  repeated,  “Come  near  to  the  table.”  Rat 
excused  himself,  “Never  mind;  I am  comfortable  here;  and 
I came  here  today  to  tell  you  that  it  is  not  well  for  a person 
to  be  without  friends;  and,  I,  Ntori,  I say  to  you,  let  us  be 
friends.”  Leopard  said,  “Very  good!” 

But  now,  even  after  this  compact  of  friendship,  Rat  told 
falsehoods  about  Leopard;  who,  not  knowing  this,  often  had 
conversations  with  him,  and  would  confide  to  him  all  the 
thoughts  of  his  heart.  For  example,  Leopard  would  tell  to 
Rat,  “Tomorrow  I am  going  to  hunt  Ngowa,  and  next  day 
I will  go  to  hunt  Nkambi,”  or  whatever  the  animal  was. 
And  Rat,  at  night,  would  go  to  Hog  or  to  Antelope  or  the 
other  animal,  and  say,  “Give  me  pay,  and  I will  tell  you  a 
secret.  ” They  would  lay  down  to  him  his  price.  And  then 
he  would  tell  them,  “Be  careful  tomorrow.  I heard  that 
Njega  was  coming  to  kill  you.  ” The  same  night,  Rat  would 
secretly  return  to  his  own  house,  and  he  down  as  if  he  had 
not  been  out. 

Then,  next  day,  when  Leopard  would  go  out  hunting,  the 
Animals  were  prepared  and  full  of  caution,  to  watch  his 
coming.  There  was  none  of  them  that  he  could  find;  they 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


15 


were  all  hidden.  Leopard  thus  often  went  to  the  forest,  and 
came  back  empty-handed.  There  was  no  meat  for  him  to 
eat,  and  he  had  to  eat  only  leaves  of  the  trees.  He  said  to 
himself,  “I  will  not  sit  down  and  look  for  explanation  to 
come  to  me.  I wdll  myself  find  out  the  reason  of  this.  For,  I, 
Njega,  I should  eat  flesh  and  drink  blood;  and  here  I have 
come  down  to  eating  the  food  of  goats,  grass  and  leaves.” 

So,  in  the  morning,  Leopard  went  to  the  great  doctor 
Ra-Marange,  and  said,  “I  have  come  to  you,  I,  Njega. 
For  these  five  or  six  months  I have  been  unable  to  kill  an 
animal.  But,  cause  me  to  know  the  reason  of  this.”  Ra- 
Marange  took  his  looking-glass  and  his  harp,  and  struck  the 
harp,  and  looked  at  the  glass.  Then  he  laughed  aloud, 
“Ke,  ke,  ke— ” 

Leopard  asked,  “Ra-Marange,  for  what  reason  do  you 
laugh?”  He  replied,  “I  laugh,  because  this  matter  is  a 
small  affair.  You,  Njega,  so  big  and  strong,  you  do  not 
know  this  little  tiling!”  Leopard  acknowledged,  “Yes:  I 
have  not  been  able  to  find  it  out.”  Ra-Marange  said, 
“Tell  me  the  names  of  your  friends.”  Leopard  answered 
“I  have  no  friends.  Nkambi  dislikes  me,  Nyare  refuses  me, 
Ngow’a  the  same.  Of  all  animals,  none  are  friendly  to  me.  ” 
Ra-Mar5nge  said,  “Not  so;  think  exactly;  think  again.” 
Leopard  was  silent  and  thought;  and  then  said, “Yes,  truly, 
I have  one  friend,  Ntori. ” The  Doctor  said,  “But,  look! 
If  you  find  a friend,  it  is  not  well  to  tell  him  all  the  thoughts 
of  your  heart.  If  you  tell  him  two  or  three,  leave  the  rest. 
Do  not  tell  him  all.  But,  you,  Njega,  you  consider  that 
Ntori  is  your  friend,  and  you  show  him  all  the  thoughts  of 
your  heart.  But,  do  you  know  the  heart  of  Ntori,  how  it  is 
inside?  Look  what  he  does!  If  you  let  him  know  that 
you  are  going  next  day  to  kill  this  and  that,  then  he  starts 
out  at  night,  and  goes  to  inform  those  animals,  “So-and-so, 
said  Njega;  but,  be  you  on  your  guard.”  Now,  look!  if  you 
wish  to  be  able  to  kill  other  animals,  first  kill  Ntori.”  Leo- 
pard was  surprised,  “ Nga ! (actually)  Ntori  lies  to  me? ” Ra- 
Marange  said,  “Yes.” 

So,  Leopard  returned  to  his  town.  And  he  sent  a child  to 
call  Rat.  Rat  came. 

Leopard  said,  “Ntori!  these  days  you  have  not  come  to 
see  me.  Where  have  you  been?  ” Rat  replies,  “ I was  sick.  ” 


16 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Leopard  says,  “I  called  you  today  to  sit  at  my  table  to  eat.” 
Rat  excused  himself,  “Thanks!  but  the  sickness  is  still  in  my 
body;  I will  not  be  able  to  eat. ” And  he  went  away. 

Whenever  Rat  visited  or  spoke  to  Leopard,  he  did  not 
enter  the  house,  but  sat  on  a chair  by  the  door.  Leopard 
daily  sent  for  him;  he  came;  but  constantly  refrained  from 
entering  the  house. 

Leopard  says  in  his  heart,  “ Ntori  does  not  approach  near  to 
me,  but  sits  by  the  door.  How  shall  I catch  him?”  Think- 
ing and  thinking,  he  called  his  wife,  and  said,  “I  have  found 
a plan  by  which  to  kill  Ntori.  Tomorrow,  I will  lie  down 
in  the  street,  and  you  cover  my  body  with  a cloth  as  corpses 
are  covered.  Wear  an  old  ragged  cloth,  and  take  ashes  and 
mark  your  body,  as  in  mourning;  and  go  you  out  on  the 
road  wailing,  ‘Njega  is  dead!  Njega,  the  friend  of  Ntori  is 
dead!’  And,  for  Ntori,  when  he  shall  come  as  a friend  to 
the  mourning,  put  his  chair  by  me,  and  say,  ‘ Sit  there  near 
your  friend/  When  he  sits  on  that  chair,  I will  jump  up 
and  kill  him  there.”  His  wife  replies,  “Very  good!” 

Next  morning,  Leopard,  lying  down  in  the  street,  pretended 
that  he  was  dead.  His  wife  dressed  herself  in  worn-out 
clothes,  and  smeared  her  face,  and  went  clear  on  to  Rat’s 
village,  wailing  “ Ah ! Njega  is  dead ! Ntori’s  friend  is  dead ! ” 
Rat  asked  her,  “But,  Njega  died  of  what  disease?  Yester- 
day, I saw  him  looking  well,  and  today  comes  word  that  he 
is  dead!”  The  wife  answered,  “Yes:  Njega  died  without 
disease;  just  cut  off!  I wonder  at  the  matter — I came  to 
call  you;  for  you  were  his  friend.  So,  as  is  your  duty  as  a 
man,  go  there  and  help  bury  the  corpse  in  the  jungle.” 
Rat  went,  he  and  Leopard’s  wife  together.  And,  behold, 
there  was  Leopard  stretched  out  as  a corpse!  Rat  asked 
the  wife,  “What  is  this  matter?  Njega!  is  he  really  dead?” 
She  replied,  “Yes:  I told  you  so.  Here  is  a chair  for  you  to 
sit  near  your  friend.  ” 

Rat,  having  his  caution,  had  not  sat  on  the  chair,  but 
stood  off,  as  he  wailed,  “Ah!  Njega  is  dead!  Ah!  my  friend 
is  dead!” 

Rat  called  out,  “Wife  of  Njega!  Njega,  he  was  a great 
person : but  did  he  not  tell  you  any  sign  by  which  it  might  be 
known,  according  to  custom,  that  he  was  really  dead?” 
She  replied,  “No,  he  did  not  tell  me.”  (Rat,  when  he  thus 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


17 


spoke,  was  deceiving  the  woman.)  Rat  went  on  to  speak, 
“You,  Njega,  when  you  were  living  and  we  were  friends, 
you  told  me  in  confidence,  saying,  ‘When  I,  Njega,  shall 
die,  I will  lift  my  arm  upward,  and  you  will  know  that  I am 
really  dead.  ’ But,  let  us  cease  the  wailing  and  stop  crying. 
I will  try  the  test  on  Njega,  whether  he  is  dead!  Lift  your 
arm!” 

Leopard  lifted  his  arm.  Rat,  in  his  heart,  laughed,  “Ah! 
Njega  is  not  dead!”  But,  he  proceeded,  “Njega!  Njega!  you 
said,  if  really  dead,  you  would  shake  your  body.  Shake! 
if  it  is  so!”  Leopard  shook  his  whole  body.  Rat  said 
openly,  “Ah!  Njega  is  dead  indeed!  He  shook  his  body!” 
The  wife  said,  “But,  as  you  say  he  is  dead,  here  is  the  chair 
for  you,  as  chief  friend,  to  sit  on  by  him.”  Rat  said,  “Yes: 
wait  for  me;  I will  go  off  a little  while,  and  will  come.” 
Leopard,  lying  on  the  ground,  and  hearing  this,  knew  in  his 
heart,  “Ah!  Ntori  wants  to  flee  from  me!  I will  wait  no 
longer!”  Up  he  jumps  to  seize  Rat,  who,  being  too  quick 
for  him,  fled  away.  Leopard  pursued  him  with  leaps  and 
jumps  so  rapidly  that  he  almost  caught  him.  Rat  got  to  his 
hole  in  the  ground  just  in  time  to  rush  into  it.  But  his 
tail  was  sticking  out;  and  Leopard,  looking  down  the  hole, 
seized  the  tail. 

• Rat  called  out,  “You  have  not  caught  me,  as  you  think! 
What  you  are  holding  is  a rootlet  of  a tree.”  Leopard  let 
go  of  the  tail.  Rat  switched  it  in  after  him,  and  jeered  at 
Leopard,  “You  had  hold  of  my  tail!  And  you  have  let  it 
go!  You  will  not  catch  me  again!”  Leopard,  in  a rage, 
said,  “You  will  have  to  show  me  the  way  by  which  you  will 
emerge  from  this  hole;  for,  you  will  never  come  out  of  it 
alive!” 

Some  narrators  carry  the  story  on,  with  the  ending  of  Tale 
No.  6,  the  story  of  Rat,  Leopard,  Frog  and  Crab. 

Leopard’s  pretence  of  death  appears  also  in  Tale  No.  3. 


18 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 
TALE  2 


Leopard’s  Hunting  Camp 
Persons 

Ntori  (A  very  large  forest  Rat)  Njega  (Leopard) 

And  other  Animals 

NOTE 

Besides  the  words  for  “hunger”  and  “famine,”  the  Bantu 
languages  have  a third  word  meaning,  “longing  for  meat.” 
In  this  story,  Leopard’s  greed  is  matched  by  the  artifice  of 
Rat : — It  was  a practice  of  African  natives  to  hide  their  ivory 
tusks  in  streams  of  water  until  a time  convenient  for  selling 
them. 

Polite  natives  will  neither  sit  uninvited  in  the  presence  of 
their  superiors,  nor  watch  them  while  eating.  If  need  be, 
to  secure  privacy,  a temporary  curtain  will  be  put  up,  and 
the  host  will  retire,  leaving  the  guest  alone.  Rude  or  un- 
civilized tribes  are  offensive  in  their  persistent  effort  to  see  a 
white  foreigner’s  mode  of  eating. 

One  of  the  tricks  of  native  sorcerers  is  to  jump  into  a fire. 


It  was  a time  of  ngwamba  (meat-hunger)  among  the 
Animals  in  Njambi’s  Kingdom. 

Leopard,  being  the  eldest  in  his  tribe,  said  to  Rat,  “Ntori! 
child ! this  is  a hard  time  for  meat.  I think  we  better  go  to 
the  forest,  and  make  a olako  (camp)  for  hunting.”  Rat 
replied  “Good!  come  on!” 

So  they  began  to  arrange  for  the  journey.  The  prepara- 
tion of  food,  nets,  baskets,  and  so  forth,  occupied  several 
days.  When  all  was  ready,  they  started.  Having  come 
to  a proper  place  in  the  forest,  they  selected  a site  where  they 
would  build  up  their  booths.  Leopard  was  to  have  his  own 
separate  camp  with  his  wives  and  his  children  and  his  people; 
and  Rat  his,  with  his  wives  and  his  children,  and  his  people. 

So  they  began  to  make  two  camps.  Leopard  said,  “Ntori! 
child!  I have  mine  here.  You  go  there  yonder.”  So  they 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


19 


built  their  booths  for  sleeping-places;  and  rested  another 
day;  and  then  built  their  arala  (drying  frames)  over  their 
fire-places  for  smoke-drying  the  meat  that  they  hoped  to 
obtain.  Next  day,  they  prepared  their  guns,  and  started 
out  on  the  hunt.  On  that  very  first  day,  they  met  game, 
and,  ku!  (bang)  went  their  guns,  killing  an  Elephant,  and, 
ku!  a wild  Ox.  Then  Leopard  said,  “Ntori!  child!  we  are 
successful ! Let  us  begin  the  work  of  cutting  up ! ” 

After  all  the  carcasses  had  been  cut  up,  came  the  time  to 
divide  the  meat  between  the  two  companies.  So,  Leopard 
said,  “As  I am  your  Uncle,  I precede;  I will  choose  first,  and 
will  give  you  the  remainder.”  So  Leopard  chose,  taking 
out  all  the  best  pieces.  When  Rat  saw  that  most  of  the 
meat  was  going  to  Leopard’s  side,  he  thought  it  time  to 
begin  to  get  his  share.  But  when  Rat  laid  hold  of  a nice 
piece,  Leopard  would  say,  “No!  child!  do  not  take  the  best: 
that  belongs  to  your  Uncle” — and  Leopard  would  claim 
the  piece,  and  hand  it  over  to  his  women.  So  it  went  on  in 
the  same  way;  to  every  nice  piece  that  Rat  chose,  Leopard 
objected  that  it  belonged  to  him.  After  Leopard  had  taken 
all  he  wanted,  there  were  left  only  the  bowels  and  the  heads 
and  legs  for  Rat. 

Then  they  each  went  to  their  own  camping-place,  to 
spread  the  meat  on  their  arala,  and  to  cook  their  dinner. 
But,  all  the  while  that  Rat  was  spreading  bones  and  bowels 
on  his  orala,  he  was  vexed ; for,  there  was  very  little  meat  on 
those  bones;  while  Leopard’s  people’s  arala  were  full  of  meat, 
and  savory  portions  were  simmering  on  their  fires  tied  in 
bundles  (agewu)  of  plantain  leaves.  At  the  noon  meal, 
Leopard  sat  down  with  his  family,  and  Rat  with  his.  But 
Rat  had  only  poor  food;  while  Leopard  and  his  people  were 
rejoicing  with  rich  meat. 

The  second  day  was  very  much  the  same  as  the  first.  It 
was  Rat  who  did  most  of  the  hunting.  With  him  it  was, 
ku!  (bang!),  and  some  beast  wTas  down;  and,  ku!  and  some 
other  beast  was  down.  Whenever  Rat  fired,  Leopard  would 
shout  out,  *‘Ntori!  child!  what  have  you  got?”  And  it  was 
Rat  who  would  shout  in  reply,  “Nyare”  (ox),  or  “Njaku” 
(elephant),  or  “Nkambi!”  (antelope),  or  whatever  the  game 
might  be.  And  it  was  Leopard  who  offensively  patronized 
him,  saying,  “That  is  a good  boy,  Tata!  (Little  Father); 


20 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


bring  it  here  to  your  Uncle.  ” Then  Rat  and  all  the  servants 
would  carry  the  carcass  to  Leopard.  So  that  day,  the  cut- 
ting and  dividing  was  just  like  the  first  day;  Leopard  claim- 
ing and  taking  the  best,  and  leaving  the  skeleton  and  scraggy 
pieces  and  the  bowels  for  Rat. 

After  that  second  day’s  hunt,  Rat  was  tired  of  this  way  of 
dividing,  in  which  he  got  only  the  worthless  pieces.  So  he 
decided  to  get  back  some  of  Leopard’s  meat  by  artifice,  for 
his  own  table,  even  if  he  had  to  take  it  from  Leopard’s  orala 
itself.  He  began  to  devise  what  he  should  do.  As  he  was 
out  walking,  he  came  to  a brook  in  which  were  sunken  logs 
of  hard  heavy  wood.  They  had  lain  there  a long  time,  and 
were  black  with  outside  decay.  With  his  machete  in  hand, 
he  dived;  and  remaining  under  the  water,  he  scraped  the 
logs  till  he  had  removed  the  dark  outside,  and  exposed  the 
white  inner  wood.  lie  kept  on  at  the  job  scraping  and 
scraping  until  the  logs  appeared  white  like  ivory.  Then 
he  went  back  to  Leopard’s  camp,  and,  with  pretence  of 
excitement,  exclaimed,  “Mwe  Njega!  I think  we  will  be 
going  to  be  rich.  \ou  don’t  know  what  I’ve  found!  Such 
a big  ivory-tusk  hidden  in  the  water!  I think  we  better 
leave  off  hunting  meat,  and  go  to  get  this  fine  ivory.  ” Leo- 
pard replied,  “ Good ! come  on ! ” 

The  next  day,  they  first  arranged  their  fires  so  that  the 
smoke-drying  of  their  meat  might  continue  during  their 
absence;  and  then  started  for  the  ivory.  They  all  prepared 
themselves,  for  diving,  by  taking  off  their  good  clothing,  and 
wearing  only  a small  loin-cloth.  Their  entire  companies 
went,  men,  women,  and  children,  leaving  not  a single  person 
in  the  camps. 

Leopard  says,  “You,  Ntori,  go  first,  as  you  know  where 
the  place  is.”  Rat  says,  “Good!  come  on!”  And  they 
went  on  their  way. 

Arrived  at  the  brook,  Rat  says,  “You  all  come  on,  and 
dive.”  Leopard  asks,  “My  son!  is  it  still  there?”  Rat, 
pointing,  answers,  “Yes!  my  ivory  is  there.”  Leopard, 
looking  down  in  the  water  says,  “I  see  no  ivory!”  Rat, 
still  pointing,  replies,  “There!  Those  white  things!  Don’t 
you  see  them?”  Leopard  says,  “I  never  saw  ivory  look  like 
logs.”  Rat  answered,  “No?  But  this  is  a new  kind.  I 
assure  you  they  are  ivory!  I have  been  down  there,  and  I 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


21 


cleaned  the  mud  off  of  them.”  Leopard  was  satisfied,  and 
said,  “Good!  come  on!”  And  they  all  dived.  They  laid 
hold  of  the  supposed  ivory,  and  pulled,  and  pushed,  and 
lifted,  and  worked.  But  it  was  stuck  fast,  and  they  could 
not  move  it. 

While  they  were  thus  working,  Rat  suddenly  cried  out, 
“Njega!  0!  I forgot  something!  I must  go  quickly  back  to 
the  olako.  I will  not  be  gone  long.  I shall  return  soon.” 

Rat  came  out  of  the  brook;  ran  to  the  camp;  took  of  his 
own  bundles  of  bones  and  scraggy  pieces,  and  put  them  on 
Leopard’s  drying-frames,  and  took  the  same  number  of 
bundles  of  good  meat  from  Leopard’s  frames.  Then  he  ran 
back  to  the  brook,  to  continue  the  work  at  the  so-called  ivory. 

Soon  after  that,  Rat  says,  “Mwe  Njega!  it  is  time  to 
return  to  the  olako;  we  have  worked  long;  I am  hungry.” 
Leopard  says,  “Good!  come  on!”  So  they  returned  to  the 
camp  to  eat. 

Rat  says,  “Njega!  as  I am  so  hungry,  I will  not  wait  with 
you,  but  will  go  to  my  own  olako  at  once.  And  I will  put 
up  a curtain  between  us,  as  it  is  a shame  for  one  to  eat  in  the 
presence  of  his  elder.  ” 

So  Rat  put  up  a curtain;  and  opened  a bundle  of  nice  meat; 
and  he  and  his  people  began  to  eat. 

When  Leopard  took  down  one  of  his  bundles,  and  opened 
it  to  share  with  his  women,  he  w^as  amazed,  and  said,  “See! 
only  bones  and  mean  pieces!  Ah!  what  is  this  matter!” 
And  he  called  out  to  the  other  camp,  “Ntori!  Tata!”  Rat 
responds,  “Eh!  Mwe  Njega?”  Leopard  inquires,  “What 
kind  of  meat  are  you  eating?”  Rat  answers,  “My  own, 
from  my  own  bundles.  But  what  kind  have  you,  Mwe 
Njega?”  Leopard  says,  “My  women  prepared  meat  that 
was  nice;  but  now  I have  only  bones.  I am  surprised  at 
that.” 

The  next,  the  fourth  day,  Rat  said  to  Leopard,  “I  think 
we  better  change  from  the  hard  work  on  the  ivory.  Let  us 
go  hunting  today;  and  tomorrow  we  will  resume  the  ivory.” 
Leopard  assented  “Good!  come  on!”  And  they  started  out 
to  hunt.  They  w*ere  successful  again  as  on  the  previous  days. 
At  the  time  of  the  division  of  the  meat,  Rat  showed  no  dis- 
pleasure at  Leopard’s  taking  the  best  pieces;  as  he  had  now 
his  own  artifice  to  get  them  back.  And  the  meats  of  the  day 


22 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


were  placed  on  their  owners’  respective  drying-frames. 
By  this  day’s  doings,  many  of  Leopard’s  baskets  were  full, 
ready  to  be  taken  to  town,  while  most  of  Rat’s  were  still 
empty. 

On  the  fifth  day,  they  went  to  the  brook  again,  to  their 
fruitless  work  of  pulling  at  the  so-called  ivory.  The  same 
things  happened  as  before;  Rat  remembers  that  he  has 
forgotten  something;  has  to  go  in  haste  to  the  camp;  rapidly 
changes  the  bundles  on  his  and  Leopard’s  frames;  returns 
to  the  brook;  they  all  come  back  to  the  camp  to  eat;  and 
there  were  repeated  Leopard’s  surprise,  and  his  questions 
to  Rat  about  the  kinds  of  meat  they  were  eating.  Thus 
they  continued;  on  alternate  days  hunting,  and  working  at 
the  ivory  that  was  stuck  immovably  fast  in  the  mud;  and 
Rat  stealing;  and  Leopard  complaining. 

Finally,  Leopard  became  tired  of  his  losses;  and,  one  day, 
without  letting  anyone  know  what  he  intended  doing,  he 
said,  “I  will  take  a little  walk.”  Rat  says,  “You  go  alone? 
May  I accompany  you?”  Leopard  said,  “No!  I go  alone; 
I won’t  be  long  away;  and  I do  not  go  far.” 

So  Leopard  went  to  the  wizard  Ra-Marange,  whom  as 
soon  as  he  saw  him,  exclaimed,  “What  are  you  come  for? 
Are  you  in  trouble?”  Leopard  told  him  the  matter  of  the 
losses  of  the  meat.  Then  Ra-Marange  jumped  into  his 
fire,  and  emerged  powerful  and  wise.  And  he  said,  “I 
will  make  for  you  something  that  will  find  out  for  you  who 
it  is  that  takes  your  meat.  ” 

So  Ra-Marange  made  a little  image  of  a man,  and  con- 
ferred on  it  wisdom  and  power,  and  gave  it  to  Leopard, 
who  took  it  to  his  camp,  and  hid  it  in  his  hut. 

The  next  day  they  all  resumed  the  work  at  the  brook, 
with  the  ivory.  There  was  the  same  diving,  the  same  fruit- 
less pulling,  Rat’s  same  need  of  going  back  to  the  camp,  and 
his  same  attempts  at  stealing.  While  he  was  doing  this,  he 
sees  something  like  a little  man  standing  near  him.  Rat 
puts  out  his  hand  to  take  from  Leopard’s  bundles  as  usual, 
and  the  image  catches  him  by  the  wrist  of  that  hand.  Rat 
indignantly  says,  “You!  this  little  fool!  leave  me!  What 
do  you  catch  me  for?”  But  the  image  was  silent;  nor  did 
it  let  go  its  hold.  So  Rat  struck  at  it  with  his  other  hand. 
And  the  image  caught  that  hand  with  its  other  hand.  Then 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


23 


Rat  was  angry  and  kicked  with  one  foot  at  a leg  of  the 
image.  And  that  foot  was  retained  by  that  leg  of  the  image. 
Rat  kicked  with  his  remaining  foot;  it  also  was  retained  by 
the  image’s  other  leg.  He  was  thus  held  in  the  power  of 
the  image. 

Rat,  in  desperation,  said,  “Let  me  go!”  The  image 
spoke,  and  simply  said,  “No!”  Rat  felt  he  was  in  a bad 
situation;  but  he  put  on  a bold  face.  He  knew  that,  by  his 
long  delay,  the  others  must  have  given  up  the  work  at  the 
brook,  and  would  by  now  be  returning  to  the  camp ; and,  in  a 
little  while,  he  would  be  discovered.  To  forestall  that  dis- 
covery, he  shouted  out,  “Mwe  Nejga,  come  quickly!  I’ve 
found  the  person  who  changes  your  bundles!”  Leopard, 
on  the  path,  heard  his  voice,  and  replied,  “My  child,  is  that 
so?  Hold  him  fast!”  Rat  still  daringly  said,  “Come 
quickly!  He  wants  to  get  away  from  my  grasp ! ” Leopard 
replied,  “Hold  fast ! I am  coming ! ” They  all  came  hastily, 
both  of  Rat’s  people,  and  of  Leopard’s  people;  and  there 
they  saw  Rat  held  fast  by  the  hands  and  legs  of  the  image. 
Leopard  asked,  “Where  is  he?”  Rat,  daring  to  the  last, 
said,  “This  little  man  here  that  I am  holding.”  Leopard 
said,  “Now  that  I am  here,  let  go  of  him,  for  I will  take 
charge  of  him.”  Rat  struggled,  but  in  vain.  Leopard 
several  times  repeated  his  direction  to  Rat,  “Let  go  of  him!” 
But  Rat  was  utterly  unable  to  withdraw  his  limbs  from  the 
power  of  the  image.  And  he  gave  up  the  effort,  in  shame. 
Then  Leopard  had  to  help  release  Rat;  the  conferred  power 
of  the  image  being  subservient  to  him.  He  did  not  strike 
Rat,  he  being  his  relative.  But  rebuked  him,  “Ah!  Ntori! 
now  I know  it  was  you  who  made  all  the  trouble  about  my 
meat!”  And  he  took  back  all  his  fine  bundles,  and 
returned  Rat  his  poor  bundles.  Rat  went  to  his  own 
camp  ashamed,  but  still  angry  at  the  unjust  division  of 
the  meat. 

As  Leopard’s  baskets  were  now  full,  he  announced  that 
they  should  prepare  to  break  camp,  and  return  to  town. 
Rat’s  women  murmured,  “Ah!  all  going  away,  and  our 
baskets  almost  empty!”  Rat  comforted  them,  “Yes;  it  is 
so;  but,  we  will  find  a way  to  fill  them!” 

So,  the  next  day,  while  the  others  were  gone  to  get  leaves 
and  vines  with  which  to  tie  up  their  baskets,  Rat  took  his 


24 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


empty  ones  to  the  brook  and  filled  them  with  stones,  and 
tied  them  up  with  leaves,  as  if  they  contained  meat. 

On  the  following  day,  as  they  were  about  to  start  on  their 
journey,  Rat  said  to  Leopard,  “As  you  are  the  elder,  go 
you  first,  and  I will  follow. ” Leopard  said,  “Good!  come 
on!”  And  they  went  on  the  path,  Rat  keeping  close  behind 
Leopard’s  people.  (Baskets  being  carried  tied  on  the  back 
with  a strap  over  the  forehead,  the  bearer  leans  heavily 
forward,  and  cannot  see  what  is  happening  behind.)  Rat 
had  prepared  a hook  with  a handle.  From  time  to  time,  as 
they  came  to  narrow  places  in  the  path  where  thorny  branches 
met,  he  would  strike  the  hook  into  some  basket  before  him, 
and  in  pretence,  wTould  say,  “Wait!  a thorn  on  this  branch 
has  caught  your  basket!  Let  me  unfasten  it.”  While  the 
carrier  would  stand  still  for  Rat  to  release  the  branch,  the 
latter  seized  the  chance  to  take  pieces  of  meat  from  the 
basket,  and  substitute  stones  from  his  own  baskets.  The 
way  was  long;  and,  at  every  obstructed  place,  Rat  kept  on 
at  his  pretence  of  helping  to  free  some  basket  of  Leopard’s 
from  the  thorns  that  caught  it,  and  changed  pieces  of  good 
meat  for  his  stones. 

Before  they  reached  Leopard’s  town,  darkness  began  to 
fall,  and  both  companies  were  very  tired,  especially  that  of 
Leopard;  for,  their  baskets  seemed  to  have  grown  heavier. 
Rat  said,  “Njega!  All  this  hard  day’s  walk!  Hide  our 
baskets,  yours  in  one  place,  and  mine  in  another,  and  let 
us  go  on  to  town  and  sleep ; and  we  will  send  back  our  women 
for  the  baskets  in  the  morning.  ” Leopard  assented,  “ Good ! 
come  on!”  So  they  left  their  baskets,  and  all  went  to  town. 

The  next  morning,  Rat  sent  his  people  very,  very  early. 
Leopard  sent  his  later,  at  the  usual  time  of  morning  business. 
When  his  people  were  going  they  met  Rat’s  people  coming 
back  with  their  loads,  and  exclaimed,  “You  are  loaded  al- 
ready!” 

When  Leopard’s  people  brought  their  baskets  to  the  town, 
and  opened  them,  they  were  amazed  to  find  that  they  had 
little  else  than  stones  and  bones.  Leopard  was  very  angry; 
and,  going  to  Rat,  he  began  to  scold,  “You  have  taken  away 
my  meat!”  “No  I have  my  own.  Look!  these  baskets, 
you  know  them,  they  are  mine!  Perhaps  some  one  stole 
your  meat  in  the  night  and  put  the  stones  in  place.  But, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


25 


as  you  are  in  such  a trouble,  I will  share  with  you  of  mine.  ” 
So  he  called  to  his  women,  “Give  Njega  a few  pieces  of  meat.” 
Leopard  took  the  meat,  and  Rat  and  his  people  went  away 
to  their  own  town. 

But  Leopard  was  not  satisfied.  He  was  sure  that  Rat 
had  played  him  a trick.  He  had  forgiven  Rat  his  stealing 
at  the  camp;  but,  for  this  last  trick,  he  meditated  revenge. 


TALE  3 

Tests  of  Death — 1st  Version 
Persons 


Njega  (Leopard) 


Ntori  (Wild-Rat) 


NOTE 

It  is  the  proper  and  most  friendly  mode,  that  relatives  and 
friends  should  hasten  to  visit  their  sick,  on  the  very  first 
information,  without  waiting  to  be  invited  or  summoned. 


Leopard  told  his  head- wife,  “Ntori  has  taken  our  meat 
and  deceived  me  in  all  these  ways;  I will  kill  him  and  eat 
him.” 

So  he  pretended  to  be  sick. 

The  next  day,  news  was  sent  to  Rat  that  his  Uncle  Leopard 
was  sick  of  a fever. 

The  following  day,  word  was  again  sent  that  he  was  very 
sick  indeed,  and  that  he  wanted  a parting  word  with  Rat. 
Rat  sent  back  a message,  “ I hear;  and  I will  come  tomorrow.  ” 

Rat  suspected  some  evil,  and  did  not  believe  that  Leopard 
was  sick.  So  he  went  to  the  forest,  and  collected  all  kinds 
of  insects  that  sting,  and  tied  them  into  five  little  bundles. 

Next  day,  word  came  to  him,  “Njega  is  dead.”  Rat 
went  quickly,  taking  the  five  little  bundles  with  him. 


26 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


When  he  reached  Leopard’s  town,  he  joined  the  crowd 
of  mourners  in  the  street,  and  lifted  up  his  voice  in  wailing. 
Leopard’s  head-wife  went  to  him,  and  said,  “Come  into  the 
house,  and  mourn  with  me,  at  your  Uncle’s  bed-side.” 
Rat  went  with  her;  but  he  did  not  take  the  seat  that  was 
offered  him,  as  a near  relative,  at  the  supposed  dead  man’s 
head.  He  first  explained,  “After  a person  is  reported  dead, 
it  is  proper  to  make  five  tests  to  prove  whether  he  is  really 
dead,  before  we  bury  him.  ” 

So  he  stood  by  the  bed,  at  a point  safe  from  Leopard’s 
hands,  and  opened  a bundle,  and  lifting  the  shroud,  quickly 
laid  the  bundle  on  Leopard’s  naked  body.  The  insects, 
infuriated  by  their  imprisonment,  flew  out  and  attacked 
Leopard’s  body,  as  it  was  the  object  nearest  to  them,  and 
they  were  confined  under  the  shroud.  Leopard  endured, 
and  did  not  move. 

Rat  opened  a second  bundle,  and  thrust  it  also  on  another 
part  of  Leopard’s  body.  Leopard  could  scarcely  refrain 
from  wincing. 

Rat  opened  a third,  and  laid  it  in  the  same  way  on  another 
part.  Leopard’s  face  began  to  twitch  with  the  torture. 
Rat  opening  a fourth,  used  it  in  the  same  way;  and  Leopard 
in  pain  began  to  twist  his  body;  but,  when  Rat  opened  the 
fifth  bundle,  Leopard  could  endure  the  stings  no  longer. 
He  started  up  from  the  bed,  holding  a dagger  he  had  hidden 
under  the  bed-clothing. 

But  Rat  wTas  too  agile  for  him,  and  ran  out  before  Leopard 
could  fully  rise  from  his  supposed  death-bed,  and  escaped  to 
his  own  place.  The  mourners  fled  from  the  furious  insects, 
and  Leopard  was  left  in  agony  under  the  poison  of  their  stings. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


27 


TALE  3 


Tests  of  Death — Second  Version 


Persons 


Njega  (Leopard) 

Ibaba  (Jackal) 

With  Ngomba  (Porcupine) 
Nkambi  (Antelope) 

Njagu  (Elephant) 


Iheli  (Gazelle) 

Ekaga  (Tortoise) 

With  Ndongo  (Pepper) 
Hako  (Ants) 

And  Nyoi  (Bees) 


And  Others 


NOTE 


All  of  a neighborhood  go  to  a mourning  for  a dead  person. 
Failure  to  go  would  have  been  regarded,  formerly,  as  a sign 
of  a sense  of  guilt  as  the  cause  of  the  death.  Formerly,  at 
funerals,  there  was  great  destruction.  Some  of  a man’s 
wives  and  slaves  were  buried  with  him,  with  a large  quantity 
of  his  goods;  and  his  fruit  trees  adjacent  to  the  houses  were 
ruthlessly  cut  down.  All,  as  signs  of  grief;  as  much  as  to 
say,  “If  the  beloved  dead  cannot  longer  enjoy  these  things, 
no  one  else  shall.  ” 

The  ancestor  of  the  leopards  never  forgave  the  ancestor 
of  the  gazelles,  but  nursed  his  wrath  at  the  trick  which  the 
latter  had  played  on  him  with  the  insects.  Unable  to  catch 
gazelles,  because  of  their  adroitness,  the  leopard  wrecks  his 
anger  on  all  other  beasts  by  killing  them  at  any  opportunity. 


These  two  beasts,  Leopard  and  Jackal,  were  living  together 
in  the  same  town.  Leopard  said  to  Jackal,  “My  friend! 
I do  not  eat  all  sorts  of  food;  I eat  only  animals.”  So,  one 
day,  Leopard  went  to  search  for  some  beast  in  the  forest. 
He  wandered  many  hours,  but  could  not  find  any  for  his 
food. 

On  another  day,  Leopard  said  to  Jackal,  “My  friend!  let 
us  arrange  some  plan,  by  which  we  can  kill  some  animal. 


28 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


For,  I’ve  wandered  into  the  forest  again  and  again,  and  have 
found  nothing.”  Leopard  made  these  remarks  to  his  friend 
in  the  dark  of  the  evening.  So  they  sat  that  night  and 
planned  and,  after  their  conversation,  they  went  to  lie  down 
in  their  houses.  And  they  slept  their  sleep. 

Then  soon,  the  daylight  broke.  And  Leopard,  carrying 
out  their  plan,  said  to  Jackal,  “Take  up  your  bedding,  and 
put  it  out  in  the  open  air  of  the  street.”  Jackal  did  so. 
Leopard  laid  down  on  that  mattress,  in  accordance  with  their 
plan,  and  stretched  out  like  a corpse  lying  still,  as  if  he  could 
not  move  a muscle.  He  said  to  Jackal,  “Call  Ngomba, 
and  let  him  come  to  me.”  So  Jackal  shouted,  “Come! 
Ngomba,  come!  That  Beast  that  kills  animals  is  dead! 
Come!” 

So  Porcupine  came  to  the  mourning,  weepmg,  and  wailing, 
as  if  he  was  really  sorry  for  the  death  of  his  enemy.  He 
approached  near  the  supposed  corpse.  And  he  jeered  at  it. 
“This  was  the  person  who  wasted  us  people;  and  this  is  his 
body!”  Leopard  heard  this  derision.  Suddenly  he  leaped 
up.  And  Porcupine  went  down  under  his  paw,  dead.  Then 
Leopard  said  to  his  friend  Jackal,  “Well!  cut  it  up!  and  let 
us  eat  it.  ” And  they  finished  eating  it. 

On  another  day,  Leopard,  again  in  the  street,  stretched 
himself  on  the  bedding.  At  his  direction,  Jackal  called  for 
Antelope.  Antelope  came;  and  Leopard  killed  him,  as  he 
had  done  to  Porcupine. 

On  another  day,  Ox  was  called.  And  Leopard  did  to  Ox 
the  same  as  he  had  done  to  the  others. 

On  another  day,  Elephant  was  called  in  the  same  way; 
and  he  died  in  the  same  way. 

In  the  same  way,  Leopard  killed  some  of  almost  all  the 
other  beasts  one  after  another,  until  there  were  left  only  two. 

Then  Jackal  said,  “Njega!  my  friend!  there  are  left,  of  all 
the  beasts,  only  two,  Iheli  and  Ekaga.  But,  what  can 
you  do  with  Iheli?  for,  he  has  many  artifices.  What,  also, 
can  you  do  against  Ekaga?  for,  he  too,  has  many  devices.” 
Leopard  replied,  “I  will  do  as  I usually  have  done;  so,  to- 
morrow, I will  lie  down  again,  as  if  I were  a corpse.” 

That  day  darkened  into  night. 

And  another  daylight  broke. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


29 


And  Leopard  went  out  of  the  house  to  lie  down  on  the 
bedding  in  the  street.  Each  limb  was  extended  out  as  if 
dead;  and  his  mouth  open,  with  lower  jaw  fallen,  like  that 
of  a dead  person. 

Then  Jackal  called,  “Iheli!  come  here!  That  person  who 
wastes  the  lives  of  the  beasts  is  dead ! He’s  dead ! ” 

Gazelle  said  to  himself,  “I  hear!  So!  Njega  is  dead? 
I go  to  the  mourning ! ” Gazelle  lived  in  a town  distant  about 
three  miles.  He  started  on  the  journey,  taking  with  him 
his  spear  and  bag;  but,  he  said  to  himself,  “Before  I go  to 
the  mourning,  I will  stop  on  the  way  at  the  town  of 
Ekaga.  ” 

He  came  to  the  town  of  Tortoise,  and  he  said  to  him, 
“Chum!  have  you  heard  the  news?  That  person  who  kills 
Beasts  and  Mankind  is  dead!”  But  Tortoise  answered, 
“No!  go  back  to  your  town!  that  person  is  not  dead.  Go 
back!”  Gazelle  said,  “No!  For,  before  I go  back  to  my 
town,  I will  first  go  to  Njega’s  to  see.”  So  Tortoise  said, 
“If  you  are  determined  to  go  there,  I w-ill  tell  you  some- 
thing.” Gazelle  exclaimed,  “Yes!  Uncle,  speak!” 

Then  Tortoise  directed  him,  “Take  ndongo.”  Gazelle 
took  some.  Tortoise  said,  “Take  also  Hako,  and  take  also 
Nyoi.  Tie  them  all  up  in  a bundle  of  plantain  leaves.” 
(He  told  Gazelle  to  do  all  these  things,  as  a warning.)  And 
Tortoise  added,  “You  will  find  Njega  with  limbs  stretched 
out  like  a corpse.  Take  a machete  with  you  in  your  hands. 
When  you  arrive  there,  begin  to  cut  dow  n the  plantain-stalks. 
And  you  must  cry  out  ‘Mho  killed  my  Uncle?  who  killed  my 
uncle?’  If  he  does  not  move,  then  you  sit  down  and  watch 
him.” 

So  Gazelle  went,  journeyed  and  came  to  that  towm  of 
mourning.  He  asked  Jackal,  “Ibaba!  This  person,  how 
did  he  die?”  Jackal  replied,  “Yesterday  afternoon  this 
person  was  seized  with  a fever;  and  today,  he  is  a corpse.” 
Gazelle  looked  at  Leopard  from  a distance,  his  eyes  fixed 
on  him,  even  while  he  was  slashing  down  the  plantains,  as  he 
was  told  to  do.  But,  Leopard  made  no  sign,  though  he 
heard  the  noise  of  the  plantain-stalk  falling  to  the  ground. 
Presently,  Jackal  said  to  Gazelle,  “Go  near  to  your  Uncle’s 
bed,  and  look  at  the  corpse.  ” 

Leopard  began  in  his  heart  to  arrange  for  a spring,  being 


30 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


ready  to  fight,  and  thinking,  “What  time  Iheli  shall  be  near 
me,  I will  kill  him.  ” 

Gazelle  approached,  but  carefully  stood  off  a rod  distant 
from  the  body  of  Leopard.  Then  Gazelle  drew  the  bundle 
of  Ants  out  of  his  bag,  and  said  to  himself,  “Is  this  person, 
really  dead?  I will  test  him!”  But,  Gazelle  stood  warily 
ready  to  flee  at  the  slightest  sign.  He  quickly  opened  the 
bundle  of  insects;  and  he  joined  the  three,  the  Ants,  the  Bees, 
and  the  Pepper,  all  in  one  hand;  and,  standing  with  care,  he 
threw  them  at  Leopard. 

The  bundle  of  leaves,  as  it  struck  Leopard,  flew  open. 
Being  released,  the  Bees  rejoiced,  saying,  “Soli  sting  Njega!” 
Pepper  also  was  glad,  saying,  “Soil  will  make  him  perspire!” 
Ants  also  spitefully  exclaimed,  “I’ve  bitten  you!” 

The  pain  of  all  these  made  Leopard  jump  up  in  wrath; 
and  he  leaped  toward  Gazelle.  But  he  dashed  away  into 
the  forest,  shouting  as  he  disappeared,  “I’m  not  an  Iheli  of 
the  open  prairie,  but  of  the  forest  wilderness!” 

So,  he  fled  and  came  to  the  town  of  Tortoise.  There  he 
told  Tortoise,  “You  are  justified!  Njega  indeed  is  not  dead! 
He  was  only  pretending,  in  order  to  kill.  ” 

And  Tortoise,  remarked,  “I  am  the  doyen  of  Beasts. 
Being  the  eldest,  if  I tell  any  one  a thing,  he  should  not 
contradict  me.  ” 


TALE  4 

Tasks  Done  for  a Wife 
Place 

In  Njambi’s  Kingdom 
Persons 

A Rich  Merchant  and  his  Nguvu  (Hippopotamus) 
Daughter  Ekaga  (Tortoise) 

Njagu  (Elephant)  Mbodi  (An  Enormous  Goat) 

Njega  (Leopard)  Servants,  and  Townspeople 

Njina  (Gorilla) 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


31 


NOTE 

The  artifices  of  Tortoise  compete  with  the  stength  of 
Leopard.  The  story  of  the  Giant  Goat  is  a separate  Tale 
in  No.  32,  of  Part  Second. 


In  the  time  when  Mankind  and  all  other  Animals  lived 
together,  to  all  the  Beasts  the  news  came  that  there  was  a 
Merchant  in  a far  country,  who  had  a daughter,  for  whom 
he  was  seeking  a marriage.  And  he  had  said,  “I  do  not 
want  money  to  be  the  dowry  that  shall  be  paid  by  a suitor 
for  my  daughter.  But,  whosoever  shall  do  some  difficult 
works,  which  I shall  assign  him,  to  him  I will  give  her.  ” 

All  the  Beasts  were  competing  for  the  prize. 

First,  Elephant  went  on  that  errand.  The  merchant 
said  to  him,  “Do  such-and-such  tasks,  and  you  shall  have 
my  daughter.  More  than  that,  I will  give  you  wealth  also.  ” 
Elephant  went  at  the  tasks,  tried,  and  failed;  and  came  back 
saying  he  could  not  succeed. 

Next,  Gorilla  stood  up;  he  went.  And  the  merchant  told 
him,  in  the  same  way  as  to  Elephant,  that  he  was  to  do  cer- 
tain tasks.  Gorilla  tried,  and  failed,  and  came  back  dis- 
gusted. 

Then,  Hippopotamus  advanced,  and  said  he  would  at- 
tempt to  win  the  woman.  His  companions  encouraged  him 
with  hopes  of  success,  because  of  his  size  and  strength. 
He  went,  tried,  and  failed. 

Thus,  almost  all  beasts  attempted,  one  after  another; 
they  tried  to  do  the  tasks,  and  failed. 

At  last  there  were  left  as  contestants,  only  Leopard  and 
Tortoise.  Neither  was  disheartened  by  the  failure  of  the 
others;  each  asserted  that  he  would  succeed  in  marrying 
that  rich  daughter.  Tortoise  said,  “I’m  going  now!”  But 
Leopard  said,  “No!  I first!”  Tortoise  yielded,  “Well,  go; 
you  are  the  elder.  I will  not  compete  with  you.  Go  you, 
first!”  Leopard  went,  and  made  his  application.  The 
merchant  said  to  him,  “Good!  that  you  have  come.  But, 
the  others  came,  and  failed.  Try  you.”  Leopard  said, 
“Very  well.”  He  tried,  and  failed,  and  went  back  angry, 


32 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Tortoise  then  went.  He  saluted  the  merchant,  and  told 
him  he  had  come  to  take  his  daughter.  The  merchant  said, 
“Do  so;  but  try  to  do  the  tasks  first.” 

Tortoise  tried  all  the  tasks,  and  did  them  all.  The  first 
was  that  of  a calabash  dipper  that  was  cracked.  The  mer- 
chant said  to  him,  “You  take  this  cracked  calabash  and 
bring  it  to  me  full  of  water  all  the  way  from  the  spring  to 
this  town.  ” Tortoise  looking  and  examining,  objected, 
“This  calabash!  cracked!  how  can  it  carry  water?”  The 
merchant  replied,  “You  yourself  must  find  out.  If  you 
succeed,  you  marry  my  daughter.  ” 

Tortoise  took  the  calabash  to  the  spring.  Putting  it  into 
the  water,  he  lifted  it.  But  the  water  all  ran  out  before  he 
had  gone  a few  steps.  Again  he  did  this,  five  times;  and 
the  water  was  always  running  out.  Sitting,  he  meditated, 
“What  is  this?  How  can  it  be  done?”  Thinking  again, 
he  said,  “I’ll  do  it!  I know  the  art  how!”  He  went  to  the 
forest,  took  gum  of  the  Okume  (mahogany  tree)  lighted  a 
fire,  melted  the  gum,  smeared  it  over  the  crack,  and  made  it 
water-tight;  then,  dipping  the  calabash  into  the  spring,  it 
did  not  leak.  He  took  it  full  to  the  father-in-law,  and  called 
out,  “Father-in-law!  this  is  the  calabash  of  water.”  The 
merchant  asked,  “But  what  did  you  do  to  it?  ” He  answered 
“I  mended  it  with  gum.”  The  father  said,  “Good  for  you! 
The  others  did  not  think  of  that  easy  simple  solution.  You 
have  sense!” 

Tortoise  then  said,  “I  have  finished  this  one  task;  today 
has  passed.  Tomorrow  I will  begin  on  the  other  four.  ” 

The  next  morning,  he  came  to  receive  his  direction  from 
the  merchant,  who  said,  “Ekaga!  you  see  that  tall  tree  far 
away?  At  the  top  are  fruits.  If  you  want  my  daughter, 
pluck  the  fruits  from  the  top,  and  you  shall  marry  her.’  ’ 
Tortoise  went  and  stood  watching  and  looking  and  examin- 
ing the  tree.  Its  trunk  was  all  covered  with  soap,  and  im- 
possible to  be  climbed.  He  returned  to  the  merchant,  and 
asked,  “That  fruit  you  wish,  may  it  be  obtained  in  any  way, 
even  if  one  does  not  climb  the  tree?”  He  was  answered, 
“Yes,  in  any  way,  except  cutting  down  the  tree.  Only  so 
that  I get  the  fruit,  I am  satisfied.  ” 

Tortoise  had  already  tried  from  morning  to  afternoon  to 
climb  that  tree,  but  could  not.  So,  after  he  had  asked  the 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


33 


merchant  his  question,  he  went  back  to  the  tree;  and  from 
evening,  all  night  and  until  morning,  he  dug  about  the  roots 
till  they  were  all  free.  And  the  tree  fell,  without  his  having 
“cut”  the  trunk  at  all.  So  he  took  the  fruit  to  the  Merchant, 
and  told  him  that  he  had  not  “cut  down”  the  tree,  but  that 
he  had  it  “dug  up.”  The  merchant  said,  “You  have  done 
well.  People  who  came  before  you  failed  to  think  of  that. 
Good  for  you!” 

On  the  third  day,  the  merchant  said  to  the  spectators,  “I 
will  not  name  the  other  three  tasks.  You,  my  assistants, 
may  name  them.”  So  they  thought  of  one  task  after 
another.  But  one  and  another  said,  “No,  that  is  not  hard; 
let  us  search  for  a harder.”  Finally,  they  found  three  hard 
tasks.  Tortoise  was  ready  for  and  accomplished  them  all. 

Then  the  merchant  announced,  “Now,  you  may  marry 
my  daughter;  and  tomorrow  you  shall  make  your  journey.” 
They  made  a great  feast;  an  ox  was  killed;  and  they  had 
songs  and  music  all  night,  clear  on  till  morning. 

But,  while  all  this  was  going  on,  Leopard,  who  was  left  at 
his  town,  was  saying  to  himself,  “This  Ekaga!  He  has 
stayed  five  days!  Had  he  failed,  he  would  not  have  stayed 
so  long!  So!  he  has  been  able  to  do  the  tasks!  Is  that  a 
good  thing?”  (On  the  day  that  Tortoise  started  on  the 
journey  to  seek  the  merchant’s  daughter,  Leopard  had  been 
heard  to  say,  “If  Ekaga  succeeds  in  getting  that  wife,  I will 
take  her  from  him  by  force.  ”) 

When  Tortoise  was  ready  to  start  on  his  return  journey 
with  his  wife,  the  father-in-law  gave  him  very  many  things, 
slaves  and  goats  and  a variety  of  goods,  and  said,  “Go,  you 
and  your  wife  and  these  things.  I send  people  to  escort 
you  part  of  the  way.  They  are  not  to  go  clear  on  to  your 
town,  but  are  to  turn  back  on  the  way.  ” 

Tortoise  and  company  journeyed.  When  the  escort  were 
about  to  turn  back,  Tortoise  said,  “Day  is  past.  Make  an 
olako  (camp)  here.  We  sleep  here;  and,  in  the  morning, 
you  shall  go  back.”  That  night  he  thought,  “Njega  said 
he  would  rob  me  of  my  wife.  Perhaps  he  may  come  to  meet 
me  on  the  way!”  So,  he  swallowed  all  of  the  things,  to  hide 
them, — wife,  servants,  and  all. 

While  Tortoise  was  thus  on  the  way,  Leopard  had  planned 
not  to  wait  his  return  to  town,  but  had  set  out  to  meet  him. 


34 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


So,  in  the  morning,  the  two,  journeying  in  opposite  directions, 
met.  Tortoise  gave  Leopard  a respectful  “Mbolo!”  and 
Leopard  returned  the  salutation.  Leopard  asked,  “What 
news?  That  woman,  have  you  married  her?”  Tortoise 
answered,  “That  woman!  Not  at  all!”  Leopard  looking  at 
Tortoise’s  style  and  manner  as  of  one  proud  of  success,  said, 
“Surely  you  have  married;  for  you  look  happy,  and  show 
signs  of  success.  ” But  Tortoise  swore  he  had  not  married. 

Leopard  only  said,  “Good.”  Then  Tortoise  asked, 
“But,  where  are  you  going?”  Leopard  answered,  “I  am 
going  out  walking  and  hunting.  But  you,  where  are  you 
going?”  Tortoise  replied,  “I  did  not  succeed  in  marrying 
the  woman;  so  I am  going  back  to  town.  I tried,  but  I 
failed.” 

“But,”  said  Leopard,  “what  then  makes  your  belly  so 
big?”  Tortoise  replied,  “On  the  way  I found  an  abundance 
of  mushrooms,  and  I ate  heartily  of  them.  If  you  do  not 
believe  it,  I can  show  you  them  by  vomiting  them  up.” 
Leopard  said,  “ Never  mind  to  vomit.  Go  on  your  journey.  ” 

And  Leopard  went  on  his  way.  But,  soon  he  thought, 
“Ah!  Ekaga  has  lied  to  me!”  So  he  ran  around  back,  and 
came  forward  to  meet  Tortoise  again. 

Tortoise  looked  and  saw  Leopard  coming,  and  observed 
that  his  face  was  full  of  wrath.  He  feared,  but  said  to  him- 
self, “If  I flee,  Njega  wdll  catch  me.  I will  go  forward  and 
try  artifice.”  As  he  approached  Leopard,  the  latter  was 
very  angry,  and  said,  “You  play  wdth  me!  You  say  you 
have  not  married  the  woman  I wanted.  Tell  me  the  truth!” 
Tortoise  again  swore  an  oath,  “No!  I have  not  married  the 
woman!  I told  you  I ate  mushrooms,  and  offered  to  show 
you;  and  you  refused.”  So  Leopard  said,  “Well,  then, 
vomit.  ” Tortoise  bent  over,  and  vomited  and  vomited 
mushrooms  and  mushrooms;  and  then  said  triumphantly, 
“So!  Njega  you  see!”  Leopard  looked,  and  said,  “But, 
Ekaga,  your  belly  is  still  full, — go  on  vomiting.”  Tortoise 
tried  to  excuse  himself,  “I  have  done  vomiting.”  Leopard 
persisted,  “No!  keep  on  at  it.”  Tortoise  went  on  retching; 
and  a box  of  goods  fell  out  of  his  mouth.  Leopard  still  said, 
“Go  on!”  and  Tortoise  vomited  in  succession  a table  and 
other  furniture.  He  was  compelled  to  go  on  retching;  and 
slaves  came  out.  And  at  last,  up  was  vomited  the  woman! 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


35 


Leopard  shouted,  “Ah!  Ekaga!  you  lied!  You  said  you 
had  not  married!  I will  take  this  woman!”  And  he  took 
her,  sarcastically  saying,  “Ekaga,  you  have  done  me  a good 
work!  You  have  brought  me  all  these  things,  these  goods, 
and  slaves,  and  a wife!  Thank  you!” 

Tortoise  thought  to  himself,  “I  have  no  strength  for  war.” 
So,  though  anger  was  in  his  heart,  he  showed  no  displeasure 
in  his  face.  And  they  all  went  on  together  toward  their 
town.  With  wrath  still  in  his  heart,  he  went  clear  on  to  the 
town,  and  then  made  his  complaint  to  each  of  the  towns- 
people. But  they  all  were  afraid  of  Leopard,  and  said 
nothing,  nor  dared  to  give  Tortoise  even  sympathy. 

There  was  in  that  country  among  the  mountains,  an 
enormous  Goat.  The  other  beasts,  all  except  Leopard,  were 
accustomed  to  go  to  that  Goat,  when  hungry,  and  say,  “We 
have  no  meat  to  eat.”  And  the  Goat  allowed  them  to  cut 
pieces  of  flesh  from  his  body.  He  could  let  any  part  of  the 
interior  of  his  body  be  taken  except  his  heart.  All  the 
Animals  had  agreed  among  themselves  not  to  tell  Leopard 
where  they  got  their  meat,  lest  he,  in  his  greediness,  would 
go  and  take  the  heart.  So  they  had  told  him  they  got  their 
meat  as  he  did,  hunting. 

Tortoise,  angry  because  Leopard  has  taken  his  wife,  said 
to  himself,  “I  will  make  a cause  of  complaint  against  Njega 
that  shall  bring  punishment  upon  him  from  our  King.  I 
will  cause  Njega  to  kill  that  Goat.”  On  another  day, 
Tortoise  went  and  got  meat  from  the  Goat,  and  came  back 
to  town,  and  did  not  hide  it  from  Leopard.  Leopard  said  to 
him,  “Ekaga!  where  did  you  get  this  meat?”  Tortoise 
whispered,  “Come  to  my  house,  and  I will  tell  you.”  They 
went.  And  Tortoise  divided  the  meat  with  him,  and  said, 
“Do  not  tell  on  me:  but,  we  get  the  meat  off  at  a great  Goat. 
Tomorrow,  I go;  and  you,  follow  behind  me.” 

So,  the  next  day,  they  went,  Tortoise  as  if  by  himself,  and 
Leopard  following,  off  to  the  great  Goat.  Arrived  there, 
Leopard  wondered  at  the  sight,  “0!  this  great  Goat!  But, 
from  where  do  you  take  its  meat?”  Tortoise  replied,  “Wait 
for  me!  You  will  see!”  He  went,  and  Leopard  followed. 
Tortoise  said  to  the  Goat,  “We  have  meat-hunger:  we  come 
to  seek  meat  from  you.”  The  Goat’s  mouth  was  open  as 
usual;  Tortoise  entered,  and  Leopard  followed,  to  get  flesh 


36 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


from  inside.  In  the  Goat’s  interior  was  a house,  full  of  meat; 
and  they  entered  it.  Leopard  wondered  at  its  size;  and 
Tortoise  told  him,  “Cut  where  you  please,  but  not  from  the 
heart,  lest  the  Goat  die.  ” And  they  began  to  take  meat. 
Leopard,  with  greediness,  coveting  the  forbidden  heart, 
went  with  knife  near  to  it. 

Tortoise  exclaimed,  “There!  there!  be  careful.”  But 
Leopard,  though  he  had  enough  other  flesh,  longed  for  the 
heart,  and  was  not  satisfied.  He  again  approached  with  the 
knife  near  it:  and  Tortoise  warned  and  protested.  These 
very  prohibitions  caused  Leopard  to  have  his  own  way,  and 
his  greediness  overcame  him.  He  cut  the  heart:  and  the 
Goat  fell  dying. 

Tortoise  exclaimed,  “Eh!  Njega!  I told  you  not  to  touch 
the  heart!  Because  of  this  matter  I will  inform  on  you.” 
And  he  added,  “Since  it  is  so,  let  us  go. ” 

But  Leopard  said,  “Goat’s  mouth  is  shut.  How  shall  we 
get  out?  Let  us  hide  in  this  house.”  And  he  asked, 
“ Where  will  you  hide?  ” Tortoise  replied,  “ In  the  stomach.  ” 
Leopard  said,  “Stomach!  It  is  the  very  thing  for  me, 
Njega,  myself!”  So  Ekaga  consented,  “Well!  take  it!  I will 
hide  in  the  gall-bladder.”  So  they  hid,  each  in  his  place. 

Soon,  as  they  listened,  they  heard  voices  shouting,  “The 
Goat  is  dead!  A fearful  thing!  The  Goat  is  dead!” 

That  news  spread,  and  all  who  had  been  accustomed  to  get 
flesh  there,  came  to  see  what  was  the  matter.  They  all  said 
that,  as  the  Goat  was  dead,  it  was  best  to  cut  and  divide  him. 
They  slit  open  the  belly,  and  said,  “Lay  aside  this  big  stom- 
ach; it  is  good;  but  throw  away  the  bitter  gall-sac.”  They 
looked  for  the  heart;  but  there  was  none!  A child,  to  whom 
had  been  handed  the  gall-bladder  to  throw  it  away,  was 
flinging  it  into  some  bushes.  As  he  did  so,  out  jumped 
something  from  among  the  bushes;  and  the  child  asked, 
“Who  are  you?”  The  thing  replied,  pretending  to  be  vexed, 
“I  am  Ekaga;  I come  here  with  the  others  to  get  meat,  and 
you,  just  as  I arrived,  throw  that  dirty  thing  in  my  face!” 
The  other  people  pacified  him,  “Do  not  get  angry.  Excuse 
the  child.  He  did  not  see  you.  You  shall  have  your  share.  ” 
Then  Tortoise  called  out,  “Silence!  silence!  silence!” 

They  all  stood  ready  to  listen,  and  he  said,  “Do  not  cut 
up  the  Goat  till  we  first  know  who  killed  it.  That  stomach 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


37 


there!  What  makes  it  so  big?”  Leopard,  in  the  stomach, 
heard;  but  he  did  not  believe  that  Tortoise  meant  it,  and 
thought  to  himself,  “What  a fool  is  this  Ekaga,  in  pretend- 
ing to  inform  on  me,  by  directing  attention  to  the  stomach!” 
Tortoise  ordered,  “All  you,  take  your  spears,  and  stick  that 
stomach!  For  the  one  who  killed  Goat  is  in  it!”  And 
they  all  got  their  spears  ready. 

Leopard  did  not  speak  or  move;  for,  he  still  thought 
Tortoise  was  only  joking.  Tortoise  began  with  his  spear, 
and  the  others  all  thrust  in.  And  Leopard  holding  the  heart, 
was  seen  dying!  All  shouted,  “Ah!  Njega  killed  our  Goat! 
Ah!  he’s  the  one  who  killed  it.”  Tortoise  taunted  Leopard, 
“Asai!  (shame  for  you)  you  took  my  wife;  and  now  you  are 
dead!”  Leopard  died.  They  divided  the  Goat,  and  re- 
turned to  town.  Tortoise  took  again  his  wife  and  all  his 
goods,  now  that  Leopard  was  dead.  And  he  was  satisfied 
that  his  artifice  had  surpassed  Leopard’s  strength. 


TALE  5 
A Tug-of-War 
Persons 

Ekaga  (Tortoise)  Ngubu  (Hippopotamus) 

Njagu  (Elephant) 


NOTE 

African  natives  are  sensitive  about  questions  of  equality 
and  seniority.  A certain  term,  “Mwera”  (chum)  may  be 
addressed  to  other  than  an  equal,  only  at  risk  of  a quarrel. 

A story  of  the  trick  by  which  Tortoise  apparently  proved 
himself  the  equal  of  both  Elephant  and  Hippopotamus. 

Observe  the  preposterous  size  of  Elephant’s  trunk ! But 
everything,  to  the  native  African  mind,  was  enormous  in  the 
p re-historic  times. 


38 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Leopard  was  dead,  after  the  accusation  against  him  by 
Tortoise  for  killing  the  great  Goat.  The  children  of  Leopard 
were  still  young;  they  had  not  grown  to  take  their  father’s 
power  and  place.  And  Tortoise  considered  himself  now  a 
great  personage.  He  said  to  people,  “We  three  who  are 
left, — I and  Njagu  and  Ngubu,  are  of  equal  power;  we  eat  at 
the  same  table,  and  have  the  same  authority.”  Every  day 
he  made  these  boasts;  and  people  went  to  Elephant  and 
Hippopotamus,  reporting,  “So-and-so  says  Ekaga. ” Ele- 
phant and  Hippopotamus  laughed,  and  disregarded  the 
report,  and  said,  “That’s  nothing,  he’s  only  to  be 
despised.  ” 

One  day  Hippopotamus  met  Elephant  in  the  forest; 
salutations  were  made,  “Mbolo!”  “Ai,  mbolo!”  each  to 
the  other.  Hippopotamus  asked  Elephant  about  a new 
boast  that  Tortoise  had  been  making,  “Have  you,  or  have 
you  not  heard?”  Elephant  answered,  “Yes,  I have  heard. 
But  I look  on  it  with  contempt.  For,  I am  Njagu.  I am 
big.  My  foot  is  as  big  as  Ekaga’s  body.  And  he  says  he  is 
equal  to  me!  But,  I have  not  spoken  of  the  matter,  and  wrill 
not  speak,  unless  I hear  Ekaga  himself  make  his  boast.  And 
then  I shall  know  what  I will  do.  ” And  Hippopotamus  also 
said,  “I  am  doing  so  too,  in  silence.  I wait  to  hear  Ekaga 
myself.  ” 

Tortoise  heard  of  what  Elephant  and  Hippopotamus  had 
been  threatening,  and  he  asked  his  informant  just  the  exact 
words  that  they  had  used,  “They  said  that  they  waited  to 
hear  you  dare  to  speak  to  them;  and  that,  in  the  meanwhile, 
they  despised  you.  ” 

Tortoise  asked,  “So!  they  despise  me,  do  they?”  “Yes,” 
was  the  reply.  Then  he  said,  “ So ! indeed,  I will  go  to  them.  ” 
He  told  his  wife,  “Give  me  my  coat  to  cover  my  body.” 
He  dressed;  and  started  to  the  forest.  He  found  Elephant 
lying  down;  his  trunk  was  eight  miles  long;  his  ears  as  big  as 
a house,  and  his  four  feet  beyond  measure. 

Tortoise  audaciously  called  to  him,  “Mwera!  I have 
come!  You  don’t  rise  to  salute  me?  Mwera  has  come!” 
Elephant  looked,  rose  up  and  stared  at  Tortoise,  and  in- 
dignantly asked,  “Ekaga!  whom  do  you  call  ‘Mwera’? 
Tortoise  replied,  “You!  I call  you  ‘Mwera.’  Are  you  not, 
Njagu?”  Elephant,  with  great  wrath,  asked,  “Ekaga!  I 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK  39 

have  heard  you  said  certain  words.  It  is  true  that  you 
said  them?” 

Tortoise  answered,  “Njagu,  don’t  get  angry!  Wait,  let 
us  first  have  a conversation.”  Then  he  said  to  Elephant, 
“I  did  call  you,  just  now,  ‘Mwera’;  but,  you,  Njagu,  why 
do  you  condemn  me?  You  think  that,  because  you  are  of 
great  expanse  of  flesh,  you  can  surpass  Ekaga,  just  because 
I am  small?  Let  us  have  a test.  Tomorrow,  sometime  in 
the  morning,  we  will  have  a lurelure  (tug-of-war).”  Said 
Elephant,  “Of  what  use?  I can  mash  you  with  one  foot.” 
Tortoise  said,  “Be  patient.  At  least  try  the  test.”  So, 
Elephant,  unwilling,  consented.  Tortoise  added,  “ But,  when 
we  tug,  if  one  overpulls  the  other,  he  shall  be  considered 
the  greater;  but,  if  neither,  then  we  are  Mwera.” 

Then  Tortoise  went  to  the  forest,  and  cut  a very  long  vine, 
and  coming  back  to  Elephant,  said  “This  end  is  yours.  I 
go  off  into  the  forest  with  my  end  to  a certain  spot,  and 
tomorrow  I return  to  that  spot;  and  we  will  have  our  tug, 
and  neither  of  us  will  stop,  to  eat  or  sleep  until  either  you 
pull  me  over  or  the  vine  breaks.”  Tortoise  went  far  off 
with  his  end  of  the  vine  to  the  town  of  Hippopotamus,  and 
hid  the  vine’s  end  at  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  He  went  to 
Hippopotamus  and  found  him  bathing,  and  going  ashore, 
back  and  forth,  to  and  from  the  water.  Tortoise  shouted 
to  him,  “Mwera!  I have  come!  You!  Come  ashore!  I am 
visiting  you!”  Hippopotamus  came  bellowing  in  great 
wrath  with  wide  open  jaws,  ready  to  fight,  and  said,  “I  will 
fight  you  today!  For,  whom  do  you  call  ‘Mwera’?” 

Tortoise  replied,  “Why!  you!  I do  not  fear  your  size. 
Our  hearts  are  the  same.  But,  don’t  fight  yet!  Let  us  first 
talk.”  Hippopotamus  grunted,  and  sat  down;  and  Tortoise 
said,  “I,  Ekaga,  I say  that  you  and  I and  Njagu  are  equal, 
we  are  Mwera.  Even  though  you  are  great  and  I small,  I 
don’t  care.  But  if  you  doubt  me,  let  us  have  a trial.  To- 
morrow morning  let  us  have  a lurelure.  He  who  shall  over- 
come, shall  be  the  superior.  But,  if  neither  is  found  superior, 
then  we  are  equals.”  Hippopotamus  exclaimed  that  the 
plan  was  absurd;  but,  finally  he  consented. 

Tortoise  then  stood  up,  and  went  out,  and  got  his  end  of 
the  vine,  and  brought  it  to  Hippopotamus,  and  said,  “This 
end  is  yours.  And  I now  go.  Tomorrow,  when  you  feel 


40 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


the  vine  shaken,  know  that  I am  ready  at  the  other  end; 
and  then  you  begin,  and  we  will  not  stop  to  eat  or  sleep  until 
this  test  is  ended.” 

Hippopotamus  then  went  to  the  forest  to  gather  leaves 
of  Medicine  with  which  to  strengthen  his  body.  And  Ele- 
phant, at  the  other  end,  was  doing  the  same,  making  medicine 
to  give  himself  strength;  and  at  night  they  were  both  asleep. 

In  the  morning,  Tortoise  went  to  the  middle  of  the  vine, 
where  at  its  half-way,  he  had  made  on  the  ground  a mark; 
and  he  shook  it  towards  one  end,  and  then  towards  the  other. 
Elephant  caught  his  end,  as  he  saw  it  shake,  and  Hippopota- 
mus did  the  same  at  his  end.  “Orindi  went  back  and  forth” 
(a  proverb  of  a fish  of  that  name  that  swims  in  that  way), 
Elephant  and  Hippopotamus  alternately  pulling.  “Nke- 
ndinli  was  born  of  his  father  and  mother”  (a  proverb,  meaning 
distinctions  in  individualities').  Each  one.  Hippopotamus 
and  Elephant,  doing  in  his  own  way.  Tortoise  smiled  at  his 
arrangement  with  each,  that,  in  the  tug,  if  one  overcame, 
it  would  be  proved  by  his  dragging  the  other;  but,  if  neither 
overcame,  they  were  not  to  cease,  until  the  vine  broke. 

Elephant  holding  the  vine  taut,  and  Hippopotamus  also 
holding  it  taut,  Tortoise  was  laughing  in  his  heart  as  he 
watched  the  quivering  vine. 

He  went  away  to  seek  for  food,  leaving  those  two  at  their 
tug,  in  hunger.  He  went  off  into  the  forest  and  found  his 
usual  food,  mushrooms.  He  ate  his  belly  full,  and  then  took 
his  drink;  and  then  went  to  his  town  to  sleep. 

He  rose  in  late  afternoon,  and  said  to  himself,  “I’ll  go  and 
see  about  the  tug,  whether  those  fools  are  still  pulling.” 
When  he  went  there,  the  vine  was  still  stretched  taut ; and  he 
thought,  “Asai!  shame!  let  them  die  with  hunger!”  He 
sat  there,  the  vine  trembling  with  tensity,  and  he  in  his 
heart  mocking  the  two  tired  beasts.  The  one  drew  the  other 
toward  himself;  and  then,  a slight  gain  brought  the  mark 
back;  but  neither  was  overcoming. 

At  last  Tortoise  nicked  the  vine  with  his  knife;  the  vine 
parted;  and,  at  their  ends,  Elephant  and  Hippopotamus  fell 
violently  back  onto  the  ground.  Tortoise  said  to  himself, 
“So!  that’s  done!  Now  I go  to  Elephant  with  one  end  of 
the  broken  vine;  tomorrow  to  Hippopotamus.”  He  went, 
and  came  on  to  Elephant,  and  found  him  looking  dolefully, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


41 


and  bathing  his  leg  with  medicine,  and  said,  “Mwera!  How 
do  you  feel?  Do  you  consent  that  we  are  Mwera?”  Ele- 
phant admitted,  “Ekaga,  I did  not  know  you  were  so  strong! 
When  the  vine  broke,  I fell  over  and  hurt  my  leg.  Yes,  we 
are  really  equal.  Really!  strength  is  not  because  the  body 
is  large.  I despised  you  because  your  body  was  small. 
But  actually,  we  are  equal  in  strength!” 

So  they  ate  and  drank  and  played  as  chums;  and  Tortoise 
returned  to  his  town. 

Early  the  next  morning,  with  the  other  end  of  the  broken 
vine,  he  went  to  visit  Hippopotamus,  who  looked  sick,  and 
was  rubbing  his  head,  and  asked,  “Ngubu!  How  do  you  feel, 
Mwera?”  Hippopotamus  answered,  “Really!  Ekaga!  so 
we  are  equals!  I,  Ngubu,  so  great!  And  you,  Ekaga,  so 
small ! We  pulled  and  pulled.  I could  not  surpass  you,  nor 
you  me.  And  when  the  vine  broke,  I fell  and  hurt  my  head. 
So,  indeed  strength  has  no  greatness  of  body.”  Tortoise 
and  Hippopotamus  ate  and  drank  and  played;  and  Tortoise 
returned  to  his  town. 

After  that,  whenever  they  three  and  others  met  to  talk 
in  palaver  (council)  the  three  sat  together  on  the  highest 
seats.  Were  they  equal?  Yes,  they  were  equal. 


TALE  6 

Agenda  : Rat’s  Play  on  a Name 
Persons 


Njega  (Leopard)  Rangi  (Frog) 

Ntori  (Rat)  Igamba  (Crab) 


NOTE 

In  native  African  etiquette,  a company  of  persons  is  saluted 
with  the  use  of  the  verb  in  the  plural;  but  only  the  oldest,  or 
the  supposed  leader,  if  his  name  is  known,  is  mentioned  by 
name. 


42 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


The  native  custom  among  polite  tribes,  is  to  leave  a guest 
to  eat  without  being  watched. 

The  twitching  of  a muscle  of  an  arm,  or  any  other  part  of 
the  body  (called  okalimambo)  is  regarded  as  a sign  of  coming 
evil.  Compare  Macbeth,  Act  4,  Scene  1. 

“By  the  pricking  of  my  thumb 
Something  wicked  this  way  comes.” 

The  absurd  and  the  unreasonable  ( e . g.,  the  swallowing 
of  a wife,  goats,  servants,  etc.)  are  a constant  feature  of  the 
native  legends  in  their  use  of  the  impossible. 

All  native  Africans  have  more  than  one  name,  and  often 
change  their  names  to  suit  circumstances.  But,  while  all 
their  names  have  a meaning  (just  as  our  English  names, 
“Augustus,”  “Clara,”  etc.)  those  meanings  are  not  thought 
of  when  denominating  an  individual;  e.  g.,  “Bwalo”  which 
means  canoe. 

Leopards  do  not  like  to  wet  their  feet. 


Leopard  wanted  a new  wife.  So  he  sought  for  a young 
woman  of  a far  country,  of  whom  he  heard  as  a nice  girl, 
a daughter  of  one  of  the  Kings  of  that  country.  He  did  not 
go  himself,  but  sent  word,  and  received  answer  by  messenger. 
Neither  the  woman  nor  her  father  had  ever  seen  Leopard. 
They  knew  of  him  only  by  reputation. 

The  King  was  pleased  with  the  proposed  alliance,  and 
assented,  saying,  “Yes!  I am  willing.  Go!  get  yourself  ready, 
and  come  with  your  marriage  company.  ” So  Leopard  went 
around  and  invited  many  other  beasts,  “Come!  and  help  me 
get  a new  one!”  They  all  replied,  “Yes!”  And  they  all 
started  together  for  the  King’s  town. 

When  they  had  gone  half-way,  one  of  their  number,  a big 
forest  Rat  said,  “Brothers!  let  us  begin  here  to  change  our 
names,  so  that  when  we  get  to  the  town,  we  shall  not  be 
known  by  our  usual  names.”  But  Leopard  refused,  “No! 
I won’t!  I stick  by  my  old  name.  My  name  is  Njega. ” 
All  the  others  said  the  same,  and  retained  their  own  names. 

But  Rat  insisted  for  himself,  “I  will  not  be  called  Ntori. 
I will  be  called  ‘Strangers.’  My  name  is  Agenda,”  (the  plural 
of  ogenda  which  means  “stranger”). 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


43 


When  they  approached  the  town,  the  inhabitants,  with 
great  politeness,  ran  out  to  welcome  them,  shouting, “Agenda! 
Saleni,  Saleni!”  (Strangers!  Welcome  ye!  welcome  ye!) 
Rat  turned  to  the  company  and  said,  “Hear  that!  you  see 
they  are  saluting  me  as  the  leader  of  this  company.  ” 

Upon  their  entering  the  town,  they  were  shown  to  the 
large  public  Reception-House;  and  the  people  said  to  them, 
“Now!  strangers  (Agenda!),  march  in!”  Rat  turned  again 
to  his  companions,  and  said,  “You  see!  they  have  again 
addressed  me  specially  by  name,  asking  me  to  take  possession 
of  this  room.  ” 

They  all  went  in  feeling  uncomfortably;  but  Rat  said  to 
them,  “Never  mind!  though  this  room  was  evidently  pre- 
pared specially  for  me,  I am  not  selfish,  and  I invite  you  to 
share  it  with  me.  ” 

After  the  visitors  had  all  been  seated,  the  people  came  to 
give  them  the  formal  final  salutation,  saying  “Strangers 
(Agenda),  mbolani!  (long  life  to  ye).”  Rat  promptly 
whispered  to  his  companions,  saying,  “This  mbolo  is  to  me 
for  you,  I alone  will  respond  to  it.”  So,  only  he  replied, 
“Ai  Mbolani!  Ai.”  (Mbolani  is  the  second  person  plural 
of  the  irregular  defective  verb  Mbolo  equal  to  “livelong.”) 

The  day  passed.  In  the  evening,  the  people  brought  in  an 
abundant  supply  of  food,  and  set  it  down  on  the  table,  say- 
ing, “Strangers  (Agenda!),  eat!  Here  is  your  food!”  And 
they  went  out,  closing  the  door,  so  that  the  guests  in  their 
eating  should  not  be  annoyed  by  spectators.  Then  Rat 
said,  “You  see!  All  this  food  is  mine,  though  I am  not  able 
to  eat  it  all.  ” He  alone  began  to  eat  of  it.  When  he  had 
satisfied  his  appetite,  he  said,  “Truly  this  food  is  my  own, 
but  I am  sorry  for  you,  and  I will  give  you  of  it.  ” So  he 
gave  out  to  each,  one  by  one,  very  small  pieces  of  fish  and 
plantain. 

In  the  morning,  the  people  thoughtfully  sent  water  for  the 
usual  morning  washing  of  hands  and  face.  Rat  hasted  to 
open  the  door;  and  the  slaves  carrying  the  vessels  of  water, 
said  to  him,  “These  are  sent  to  the  strangers  (Agenda).” 
So  Rat  took  the  water  and  used  it  all  for  himself. 

This  second  day  was  a repetition  of  the  first.  The  towns- 
people continued  their  hospitality,  sending  food  and  drink 
and  tobacco  and  fruits;  and  making  many  kind  inquiries  of 


44 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


what  “the  Agenda”  would  like  to  have.  Rat,  received  all 
these  things  as  for  himself;  while  the  rest  of  the  company 
felt  themselves  slighted,  and  were  hungry  and  disgusted. 

On  the  third  day,  the  company  said  among  themselves, 
“Njega  told  us  that  our  visit  was  to  last  the  usual  five  days; 
but  we  cannot  stand  such  treatment  as  this!”  And  they 
began  to  run  away,  one  by  one.  Even  Leopard  himself 
followed  them,  provoked  at  his  expected  father-in-law’s 
supposed  neglect  of  him.  But,  before  Leopard  had  gone, 
Rat  went  to  the  bride  elect,  and  said,  “I  never  saw  such  a 
party  as  this ! They  do  not  eat,  and  are  not  willing  to  await 
the  Marriage  Dance  for  the  Bride  on  the  fifth  day.” 

When  they  were  all  secretly  gone,  leaving  Rat  alone,  he 
said  to  the  woman,  “ I will  tell  them  all  to  go,  even  my  friend 
Njega  whom  I brought  to  escort  me.  But  I will  not  go 
without  you,  even  if  we  have  not  had  the  dance;  for,  I am 
the  one  who  was  to  marry  you.  ” And  the  father  of  the  girl 
said  to  Rat,  “Since  they  have  treated  you  so,  never  mind 
to  call  them  again  for  the  Dance.  You  just  take  your  wife 
and  go.  ” 

So  the  King  gave  his  daughter  farewell  presents  of  boxes  of 
clothing,  and  two  female  servants  to  help  her,  and  a number 
of  goats,  and  men-servants  to  carry  the  baggage. 

Rat  and  wife  and  attendants  set  out  on  their  journey. 
When  they  were  far  away  from  the  King’s  town,  Rat  ex- 
claimed, “I  feel  okalimambo  (premonition).”  (He  sus- 
pected that  Leopard  was  somewhere  near.)  So  he  dismissed 
the  men-servants,  and  sent  them  back  to  the  King.  And 
then  quickly,  in  order  to  hide  them,  he  swallowed  the  woman 
and  the  two  maid-servants  and  all  the  boxes  of  clothing,  and 
the  goats. 

Rat  then  went  on,  and  on,  and  on,  with  his  journey, 
until  at  a cross-roads,  he  saw  Leopard  coming  cross-ways 
toward  him:  and  he  called  out,  “Who  are  you?”  The 
reply  came,  “ I am  Njega.  And  who  are  you?  ” Rat  answer- 
ed, “Ntori.  ” 

Then  Leopard  called  to  him,  “Come  here!”  “No!” 
said  Rat,  “I  am  in  a hurry,  and  want  to  get  home — ” And 
he  went  on  without  stopping.  So  Leopard  said,  “Well,  I 
pass  on  my  way  too!”  “Good!”  said  Rat,  “Pass  on!” 
And  they  went  on  their  separate  ways. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


45 


But  Leopard,  at  a turn  in  his  road,  rounded  back,  and 
hasted  by  another  path  to  get  in  front  of  Rat.  When  Leo- 
pard again  saw  Rat  a short  distance  before  him,  he  calls  out, 
“Who  are  you?”  The  reply  was  “Ntori;  and  who  are  you?” 
Leopard  answered,  “I’m  Njega.  Stop  on  your  way,  and 
come  here  to  me!”  Rat  replied,  “No!  you  asked  me  once 
before  to  stop,  and  I refused.  And  I refuse  now;  I must 
pass  on.” 

Because  of  Rat’s  unwillingness  to  stop,  Leopard  began  to 
chase  him,  and  to  shout  at  him,  “You  have  my  wife!”  Rat 
answered  back,  “No!  I have  no  wife  of  yours!”  “You  lie! 
You  have  the  woman  with  you.  What  makes  your  body  so 
big?” 

Rat  ran  as  fast  as  he  could,  with  Leopard  close  after  him. 
Rat’s  home  is  always  a hole  in  the  ground;  and,  as  he  was 
hard  pressed  in  his  flight,  he  dashed  into  the  first  hole  he 
came  to,  which  happened  to  be  a small  opening  into  a cave. 
But  his  tail  was  not  yet  drawn  in  and  Leopard  was  so  near 
that  he  seized  it.  Projecting  from  the  mouth  of  the  hole 
there  was  also  the  small  root  of  a tree.  Rat  called  ont, 
“Friend  Njega!  what  do  you  think  you  have  caught  hold 
of?”  “Your  tail!”  said  Leopard.  Said  Rat,  “That  is  not 
my  tail!  this  other  thing  near  you  is  my  tail!”  So  Leopard 
let  go  of  the  tail,  and  seized  the  root.  Rat  slid  quickly  to  the 
bottom  of  the  hole,  and  called  out,  “O!  Njega!  I did  not 
think  you  were  so  silly!  You  had  hold  of  my  tail,  and  you 
let  me  go!  You  just  look  at  your  hand;  you  will  see  my  tail- 
hairs  clinging  to  it!” 

Leopard  went  away  in  wrath;  and,  finding  Frog  at  a near- 
by brook,  he  said  to  him,  “Rangi!  you  just  watch.  I do  not 
want  Ntori  to  escape  from  that  hole.  Watch,  while  I go  to 
get  some  fire,  with  which  to  burn  him  out.  ” 

Shortly  after  Leopard  had  gone,  Rat  began  to  creep  out. 
Seeing  Frog  standing  on  guard,  he  said,  “Good  Rangi!  let 
me  pass!”  But  Frog  replied,  “No!  I have  my  orders  to 
watch  you  here.”  Then  said  Rat,  “If  that  is  so,  why  don’t 
you  come  close  here,  and  attend  to  you  duty?  You  are  too 
far  from  this  hole.  If  a person  is  set  to  watch,  he  should 
be  near  the  thing  he  watches.  As  far  as  you  are  there,  I 
could,  if  I tried,  get  out  without  your  catching  me.  So,  it 
is  better  for  you  to  have  a good  look  down  this  hole.  ” While 


46 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Rat  was  saying  all  this,  he  was  near  the  mouth  of  the  hole; 
but,  as  Frog  approached,  he  receded  to  the  bottom,  and  went 
to  the  back  end  of  the  cave,  where  cayenne  pepper  bushes 
were  growing.  Frog  came  to  the  edge  of  the  hole,  and  looking 
down,  saw  nothing. 

During  this  while,  Rat  was  plucking  pepper-pods  and 
chewing  them,  retaining  them  in  his  mouth.  Returning 
again  to  the  entrance,  he  saw  Frog  still  watching,  and  he 
said,  “Rangi!  get  out  of  my  way,  and  let  me  pass.  Let  me 
out!”  Frog  replied,  “I  will  not!”  Rat  asked,  “Do  you 
know  me?  Frog  replied,  “Not  very  well.”  Then  Rat 
said,  “Come  near!  Open  your  eyes  wide,  and  take  a good 
look  at  me!”  As  soon  as  Frog’s  eyes  were  wide  open,  Rat 
blew  the  pepper  into  them.  This  so  startled  Frog  that  he 
fell  back,  his  eyes  blinded  by  the  smarting;  and  Rat  jumped 
out  and  ran  away.  Frog,  heedless  of  his  prisoner,  was 
jumping  about  in  pain;  and,  abandoning  his  post,  crawled 
to  the  water  of  the  brook  not  far  away,  and  tumbled 
into  it  to  wash  his  eyes. 

Now,  by  this  time,  Leopard  had  returned  with  his  fire. 
Seeing  no  one  on  guard,  he  called  out,  “Rangi!  Rangi! 
where  are  you?”  Frog,  at  the  bottom  of  the  brook,  was  still 
in  agony  with  his  eyes.  He  knew  well  that  Rat  was  gone; 
but,  in  his  vexation,  he  answered,  “Ntori  is  there!  Put  in 
your  fire!”  So,  Leopard  put  fire  into  the  hole,  and  made  a 
great  smoke,  but  there  was  no  sign  of  Rat. 

After  a long  time,  Leopard  became  tired  at  not  finding 
Rat,  and  called  out,  “Rangi!  Rangi!  Where  indeed  is  Ntori? 
He  has  not  come  out  by  this  fire!”  Then  Frog  answered, 
“Ntori  is  not  there.  I just  lied  to  you  in  vexation  of  the 
pain  I got  through  serving  you.”  So,  Leopard  was  very 
angry  and  said  to  Frog,  “You  have  deceived  and  fooled  me! 
I will  just  come  and  eat  you  up!”  Said  Frog,  “Good!  come 


on! 


Leopard  ran  to  the  brook,  but,  as  Frog  was  at  the  bottom, 
Leopard  had  first  to  drink  all  the  water,  before  he  could 
reach  him.  Leopard  drank  and  drank.  But,  as  soon  as 
the  water  was  nearly  drunk  up,  Frog  jumped  out,  and  hopped 
away  to  an  adjacent  pond.  There  Leopard  followed,  and 
began  to  drink  up  that  water  also.  He  drank,  and  drank, 
and  drank,  until  he  became  so  full  and  his  belly  so  swollen 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


47 


that  his  feet  no  longer  touched  the  ground;  and  he  fell  over 
on  his  back,  before  he  had  entirely  emptied  the  pond.  He 
was  in  such  great  pain,  in  his  swollen  belly,  that  he  was 
helpless,  and  cried  out  to  passersby,  “Please,  open  a little 
hole  in  my  body,  and  let  out  this  water !”  But  each  of  the 
passersby  said,  “No!  I am  afraid  that  after  I have  helped 
you,  then  you  will  eat  me.  ” 

At  last,  among  those  who  passed  by,  came  Crab.  Leopard 
pleaded  with  him,  “Igamba!  please!  open  my  skin.  Let  out 
this  water,  so  that  I may  live!”  At  first,  Crab  replied  as 
the  others,  “No ! I fear  that  after  I help  you,  you  will  eat  me.  ” 
But  Leopard  begged  so  piteously  that  Crab  consented,  and 
scratched  Leopard’s  skin  with  one  of  his  claws.  And  the 
water  spurted  out!  It  came  in  so  fast  a current  that  it  be- 
gan to  sweep  Crab  away.  So  Leopard  cried  out,  “Igamba! 
Please!  do  not  let  yourself  be  taken  away!  Catch  hold  on 
some  root  or  branch!”  Crab  did  so,  holding  on  to  a pro- 
jecting root.  When  the  water  had  subsided,  and  Crab  was 
safe,  Leopard  was  able  to  rise;  and  he  said,  “Igamba!  you 
have  been  kind  to  me;  let  me  take  you  home,  and  I will  be 
good  to  you;  I will  cook  dinner,  so  we  can  eat  together.” 
Crab  agreed,  and  they  went  together. 

Leopard  began  to  cook  a kind  of  yam  called  nkwa,  making 
a pot  full  of  it.  (When  it  is  thoroughly  cooked,  it  is  soft  and 
sticky.)  The  yam  being  finally  ready  to  be  eaten,  Leopard 
said,  “We  do  not  put  this  food  out  on  plates,  but  we  bring 
the  entire  pot,  and  every  one  will  help  himself  from  it  with 
his  hands.”  Leopard  thereupon  began  to  take  out  handfuls 
of  the  nkwa,  and  to  eat  it.  Crab  tried  to  do  the  same,  putting 
a claw  into  the  sticky  mass.  But  its  heat  burned  his  tender 
skin,  and,  in  jerking  his  claw  away,  it  stuck  fast  in  the  nkwa, 
and  broke  off.  As  soon  as  that  happened,  Leopard  snatched 
up  the  claw  and  ate  it.  Crab  protested,  “Ah!  Njega!  you 
are  eating  my  claw!”  Said  Leopard,  “Excuse  me!  No,  I 
thought  it  was  nkwa.”  So  the  dinner  went  on;  Leopard 
greedily  eating,  Crab  trying  in  vain  to  eat,  and  losing  claw 
after  claw,  which  Leopard  in  succession  promptly  ate. 

Now,  when  Leopard  had  finished  eating  all  the  food. 
Crab’s  claws  were  all  gone,  and  he  had  not  been  able  to  eat 
at  all,  and  was  left  hungry.  So  Leopard  says  to  Crab,  “Now, 
as  you  are  so  helpless,  what  must  I do  for  you?”  He  hoped 


48 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


that  Crab,  in  despair,  would  tell  him  to  eat  him.  But  Leo- 
pard really  was  not  hungry  just  then;  and,  when  Crab  said, 
“If  you  will  just  put  me  into  some  shallow  water  for  two 
months,  then  all  my  claws  will  grow  all  right  again,”  Leo- 
pard replied,  “Good!”  and  he  took  Crab  and  placed  him  in 
a small  stream  of  water. 

The  next  day,  Leopard,  being  now  hungry  to  eat  Crab, 
came  to  the  water  and  called  out,  “Igamba!  Igamba!  have 
you  your  claws  grown  now?”  The  reply  was,  “Why!  No! 
I told  you  two  months  yesterday,  when  you  put  me  in  here.  ” 

On  the  third  day,  Leopard  came  again  to  the  water,  and 
cried  out  to  Crab,  “Have  your  claws  sprouted?  Have  they 
grown  again?”  “No!”  said  Crab  curtly. 

Leopard  continued  thus  day  by  day,  vexing  Crab  with 
inquiries,  as  if  anxious  about  his  health,  but  really  desirous 
of  an  excuse  to  eat  him,  yet  ashamed  to  do  so  by  violence, 
because  of  Crab’s  kindness  to  him  when  he  had  the  water- 
colic. 

At  last,  Crab  became  tired  of  Leopard’s  visits.  Hopeless 
to  defend  himself  if  Leopard  should  finally  use  force,  he  gave 
up  in  despair,  and  said,  “So!  I see  why  you  ask  me  every 
day.  You  know  that  I told  you  two  months.  If  you  are 
determined  to  eat  me,  come  on,  and  end  the  trouble  at  once ! ” 
With  this  permission  as  an  excuse,  Leopard  was  glad.  He 
stepped  to  the  edge  of  the  water  and  took  away  Crab  for 
his  dinner.  That  was  the  return  for  Crab’s  kindness  to  him. 
After  this,  Leopard  went  out  again  to  try  to  find  Rat,  but  he 
never  found  him. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


49 


TALE  7 

“Nuts  Are  Eaten  Because  of  Angangwe”;  A Proverb 

Places 


Kingdom  of  the  Hogs;  The  Forest;  and  Towns 


Persons 


Angangwe,  King  of  Hogs 
A Hunter 

Ingowa  (Hogs;  singular  Ngo- 
wa) 


Njina  (Gorilla) 
Nyare  (Ox) 
Nkambi  (Antelope) 
Njagu  (Elephant) 


NOTE 


“Inkula  si  nyo  o’k&nga  ’Ngangwe.  ” 

This  is  a proverb  expressing  the  obligation  we  all  owe  to 
some  superior  protecting  powers. 


The  Hogs  had  cleared  a space  in  the  forest,  for  the  building 
of  their  town.  They  were  many;  men  and  women  and 
children. 

In  another  place,  a Hunter  was  sitting  in  his  town.  Every 
day,  at  daybreak,  he  went  out  to  hunt.  When  he  returned 
in  the  afternoons  with  his  prey,  he  left  it  a short  distance 
from  the  town,  and  entering  his  house,  would  say  to  his 
women  and  children,  “Go  to  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  and 
bring  what  animal  you  find  I have  left  there.  ” 

One  day,  having  gone  hunting,  he  killed  Elephant.  The 
children  went  out  to  cut  it  up  and  bring  it  in. 

Another  day,  he  killed  Gorilla. 

And  so,  each  day,  he  killed  some  animal.  He  never  failed 
of  obtaining  something. 

One  day,  his  children  said  to  him,  “You  always  return 
with  some  animal;  but  you  never  have  brought  us  Ngowa.” 
He  replied,  “I  saw  many  Ingowa  today,  when  I was  out  there. 


50 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


But,  I wonder  at  one  thing;  that,  when  they  are  all  together 
eating,  and  I approach,  they  run  away.  As  to  Ingowa,  they 
eat  nkula  nuts  and  I know  where  the  trees  are.  Well,  then, 
I ambush  them;  but,  when  I go  nearer,  I see  one  big  Ngowa 
not  eating,  but  going  around  and  around  the  herd.  Whether 
it  sees  me  or  does  not  see,  sure  when  I get  ready  to  aim  my 
gun,  then  they  all  scatter.  The  reason  that  Ingowa  escape 
me,  I do  not  know.  ” 

The  Hogs,  when  they  had  finished  eating,  and  were  return- 
ing to  their  own  town,  as  they  passed  the  town  of  Elephant, 
heard  mourning;  and  they  asked,  “Who  is  dead?”  The 
answer  was,  “Njagu  is  dead!  Njagu  is  dead!”  They  in- 
quired, “He  died  of  what  disease?”  They  were  told,  “Not 
disease;  Hunter  killed  him.”  Then  another  day,  when  Ox 
was  killed,  his  people  were  heard  mourning  for  him.  Another 
day,  Antelope  was  killed;  and  his  people  were  mourning  for 
him.  All  these  animals  were  dying  because  of  Hunter  killing 
them. 

At  first,  the  Hogs  felt  pity  for  all  these  other  Beasts.  But, 
when  they  saw  how  they  were  dying,  they  began  to  mock 
at  them,  “These  are  not  people!  They  only  die!  But,  as 
to  us  Ingowa,  Hunter  is  not  able  to  kill  us.  We  hear  only 
the  report  that  there  is  such  a person  as  Hunter,  but  he  is 
not  able  to  kill  us.  ” 

When  Hogs  were  thus  boasting,  their  King,  Angangwe, 
laughed  at  them,  saying,  “You  don’t  know,  you  Ingowa! 
You  mock  others,  that  Hunter  kills  them?”  They  answered, 
“Yes,  we  mock  at  them;  for,  we  go  to  the  forest  as  they  do, 
but  Hunter  does  not  touch  us.”  Angangwe  asked,  “When 
you  thus  in  the  forest  eat  your  inkula-nuts,  you  each  one 
eat  them  by  his  own  strength  and  skill?”  They  answered, 
“Yes;  ourselves  we  go  to  the  forest  on  our  own  feet;  we  our- 
selves pick  up  and  eat  the  inkula.  No  one  feeds  us.”  An- 
gangwe said,  “It  is  not  so.  Those  inkula  you  eat  si  nyo 
o’kanga  wa  oma  (they  are  eaten  because  of  a person) . ” They 
insisted,  “No,  it  is  not  so.  Inkula  have  no  person  in 
particular  to  do  anything  about  them.”  Thus  they  had 
this  long  discussion,  the  Hogs  and  their  King;  and  they  got 
tired  of  it,  and  lay  down  to  sleep. 

In  the  morning,  when  daylight  came,  the  King  said,  “A 
journey  for  nuts!  But,  today,  I am  sick.  I am  not  able 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


51 


to  go  to  gather  nuts  with  you.  I will  stay  in  town.  ” The 
Hogs  said,  “Well!  we  do  not  mistake  the  way.  It  is  not 
necessary  for  you  to  go.  ” 

When  they  went,  they  were  jeering  about  their  King, 
“Angangwe  said,  ‘Inkula  si  nyo  o Tanga  w’  oma’;  but  we 
will  see  today  without  him.  ” They  went  to  the  nkula  trees, 
and  found  great  abundance  fallen  to  the  ground  during  the 
night.  The  herd  of  Hogs,  when  they  saw  all  these  inkula, 
jumped  about  in  joy.  They  stooped  down  to  pick  up  the 
nuts,  their  eyes  busy  with  the  ground.  They  ate  and  ate. 
No  one  of  them  thought  of  Hunter,  whether  he  was  out  in 
the  forest. 

But,  that  very  morning,  Hunter  had  risen,  taken  his  gun 
and  ammunition-box,  and  had  gone  to  hunt.  And,  after 
awhile,  he  had  seen  the  Hogs  in  the  distance.  They  were 
only  eating  and  eating,  not  looking  at  anything  but  nuts. 

Hunter  said  in  his  heart,  “These  Hogs,  I see  them  often, 
but  why  have  I not  been  able  to  kill  them? ” He  crept  softly 
nearer  and  nearer.  Creeping  awhile  then  he  stood  up  to 
spy;  and  again  stooping,  and  again  standing  up  to  spy.  He 
did  not  see  the  big  Hog  which,  on  other  days,  he  had  always 
observed  going  around  and  around  the  herd.  Hunter  stooped 
close  to  the  ground,  and  crept  onward.  Then,  as  he  ap- 
proached closer,  the  Hogs  still  went  on  eating.  He  bent  his 
knee  to  the  earth,  and  he  aimed  his  gun ! Ingowa  still  eating ! 
His  gun  flashed ! and  ten  Hogs  died ! 

The  Hogs  fled;  some  of  them  wounded.  Those  who  were 
not  wounded,  stopped  before  they  reached  their  town,  and 
said,  “Let  us  wait  for  the  wounded.”  They  waited.  When 
the  hindmost  caught  up  and  joined  the  others,  they  showed 
them  their  wounds,  some  in  the  head,  some  in  the  legs. 
These  wounded  ones  said,  “As  we  came,  we  saw  none  others 
behind  us.  There  are  ten  of  us  missing;  we  think  they  are 
dead.”  So,  they  all  returned  toward  their  Town;  and,  on 
their  way,  began  to  mourn. 

When  they  had  come  clear  on  to  the  town,  Angangwe 
asked,  “What  news,  from  where  you  come?”  They  answer- 
ed, “Angangwe!  evil  news!  But  we  do  not  know  what  is 
the  matter.  Only  we  know  that  the  words  you  said  are  not 
really  so,  that  ‘ nuts  are  eaten  because  of  a certain  person.  ’ 
Because,  when  we  went,  each  one  of  us  gathered  by  his  own 


52 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


skill,  and  ate  by  his  own  strength,  and  no  one  trusted  to  any 
one  else.  And  when  we  went,  we  ate  abundantly,  and  every- 
thing was  good.  Except  that,  Hunter  has  killed  ten  of  us. 
And  many  others  are  wounded.  ” 

The  King  inquired,  “Well!  have  you  brought  nuts  for  me 
who  was  left  in  Town?”  They  replied,  “No;  when  Hunter 
shot  us,  we  feared,  and  could  no  longer  wait.”  Then 
Angangwe  said,  “I  told  you  that  inkula  are  eaten  because  of 
a person,  and  you  said,  ‘ not  so.’  And  you  still  doubt  me.  ” 
Another  day,  the  Hogs  went  for  inkula;  and  the  King, 
remained  in  town.  And,  as  on  the  other  day,  Hunter  killed 
them.  So,  for  five  successive  days,  they  went,  the  King 
staying  in  town;  and  Hunter  killing  them. 

Finally,  Angangwe  said  to  himself,  “Ingowa  have  become 
great  fools.  They  do  not  consent  to  admit  that  nuts  are 
eaten  by  reason  of  a certain  person.  They  see  how  Hunter 
kills  them;  and  they  still  doubt  my  words.  But,  I pity  them. 
Tomorrow,  I will  go  with  them  to  the  nuts.  I will  explain 
to  them  how  Hunter  kills  them.” 

So,  in  the  morning,  the  King  ordered,  “Come  all  to  nuts! 
But  when  we  go  for  the  nuts,  if  I say,  ‘Ngh-o-o!’ then  every 
one  of  you  who  are  eating  them  must  start  to  town,  and  not 
come  back,  because  then  I have  seen  or  smelt  Hunter;  and  I 
grunt  to  let  you  know.”  All  the  Hogs  agreed.  They  went 
on  clear  to  the  nkula  trees,  and  ate,  they  stooping  with  eyes 
to  the  ground.  But  Angangwe,  not  eating,  kept  looking 
here  and  there.  He  sniffed  wind  from  south  to  north,  and 
assured  them,  “Eat  you  all!  I am  here!”  He  watched 
and  watched;  and  presently  he  saw  a speck  far  away.  He 
passed  around  to  sniff  the  wind.  His  nose  uplifted,  he 
caught  the  odor  of  Hunter.  He  returned  to  the  herd, 
grunted  “Ngh-o-o.”  And  he  and  they  all  fled.  They 
arrived  safely  at  town. 

Then  he  asked  them,  “Who  is  dead?  who  is  wounded?” 
They  assured,  “None.”  He  said,  “Good!” 

Thus  they  went  nutting,  for  five  consecutive  days,  they 
and  their  King,  Angangwe  only  keeping  watch.  And  none 
of  them  died  by  Hunter. 

Then  Angangwe  said  to  them,  “Today  let  us  have  a con- 
versation. ” And  he  began,  “I  told  you,  inkula  si  nyo  o’kangd 
w’  oma;  you  said,  ‘Not  so!’  But,  when  you  went  by  your- 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


53 


selves  to  eat  nuts,  did  not  Hunter  kill  you?  And  these  five 
days  that  we  have  gone,  you  and  I together,  and  you  obeyed 
my  voice,  who  has  died?” 

They  then  replied,  “No  one!  no  one!  Indeed,  you  spoke 
truly.  You  are  justified.  Inkula  si  nyo  o’kanga  wa  ’Ngangwe. 
It  is  so!” 


TALE  8 

Who  Are  Crocodile’s  Relatives? 
Persons 


Ngando  (Crocodile)  Sinyama  (Beasts) 

Sinyani  (Birds) 


NOTE 

An  Argument  in  Evolution — When  and  How  does  Life 
begin? 


Crocodile  was  very  old.  Finally  he  died.  News  of  his 
death  spread  abroad  among  the  Beasts;  and  his  relatives 
and  friends  came  to  the  Mourning.  After  a proper  number 
of  days  had  passed,  the  matter  of  the  division  of  the  proper  y 
was  mentioned.  At  once  a quarrel  was  developed,  on  the 
question  as  to  who  were  his  nearest  relatives. 

The  tribe  of  Birds  said,  “He  is  ours  and  we  will  be  the 
ones  to  divide  the  property.”  Their  claim  was  disputed, 
others  asking,  “On  what  ground  do  you  claim  relationship? 
You  wear  feathers;  you  do  not  wear  plates  of  armor  as  he.” 
The  Birds  replied,  “True,  he  did  not  wear  our  feathers.  But, 
you  are  not  to  judge  by  what  he  put  on  during  his  life.  Judge 
by  what  he  was  in  his  life’s  beg  nning.  Look  you!  In  his 
beginning,  he  began  with  us  as  an  egg.  We  believe  in  eggs. 
His  mother  bore  him  as  an  egg.  He  is  our  relative,  and  we 
are  his  heirs.  ” 


54 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


But  the  Beasts  said,  “Not  so!  We  are  his  relatives,  and 
by  us  shall  his  property  be  divided.” 

Then  the  Council  of  Animals  demanded  of  the  Beasts  on 
what  ground  they  based  their  claim  for  relationship,  and 
what  answer  they  could  make  to  the  argument  of  the  birds 
as  to  Crocodile’s  egg-origin. 

The  Beasts  said,  “It  may  be  true  that  the  mark  of  tribe 
must  be  found,  in  a beginning , but  not  in  an  egg.  For,  all 
Beings  began  as  eggs.  Life  is  the  original  beginning.  Look 
you!  When  life  really  begins  in  the  egg,  then  the  mark  of 
tribe  is  shown.  When  Ngando’s  life  began,  he  had  four 
legs  as  we  have.  We  judge  by  legs.  So  we  claim  him  as  our 
relative.  And  we  will  take  his  property.” 

But,  the  Birds  answered,  “You  Beasts  said  we  were  not 
relatives  because  we  wear  feathers,  and  not  ngando-plates. 
But,  you,  look  you!  Judge  by  your  own  words.  Neither 
do  you  wear  ngando-plates,  you  with  your  hair  and  fur! 
Your  words  are  not  correct.  The  begininng  of  his  life  was 
not,  as  you  say,  when  little  Ngando  sprouted  some  legs. 
There  was  life  in  the  egg  before  that.  And  his  egg  was  like 
ours,  not  like  what  you  call  your  eggs.  You  are  not  his 
relatives.  He  is  ours.” 

But  the  Beasts  disputed  still.  So  the  quarrel  went  back 
and  forth.  And  they  never  settled  it. 


TALE  9 

Who  is  King  of  Birds? 

Places 

The  Country  of  Birds  in  Njambi’s  Kingdom 
Njambi’s  Town 

Persons 

Ra-Njambi  (Lord  or  Master  Ngwanyani  (Eagle) 

of  all)  Ugulungu  (Schizorhis,  Plan- 

Njagani  (Chicken)  tain-Eater) 

Ngozo  (Parrot) 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


55 


NOTE 

1st — Ability  to  Speak  a greater  gift  than  ability  in  Walk- 
ing, Flying,  or  any  other  Force. 

2nd — Why  Chickens  live  with  Mankind. 


All  the  Birds  had  their  dwelling-place  in  a certain  country 
of  Njambi’s  Kingdom.  The  pelicans,  chickens,  eagles, 
parrots  and  all  other  winged  kinds  all  lived  together,  sepa- 
rated from  other  animals,  in  that  country  under  the  Great 
Lord  Njambi. 

One  day,  they  were  discussing  together  on  the  question, 
“Who  is  Kang  of  the  Birds?”  They  all,  each  one,  named 
himself,  e.  g .,  the  Chicken  said,  “I!;”  the  Parrot,  “I!”  the 
Eagle  “I!”  and  so  on.  Every  day  they  had  this  same  dis- 
cussion. They  were  not  able  to  settle  it,  or  to  agree  to 
choose  any  one  of  their  number.  So,  they  said,  “Let  us 
go  to  Ra-Njambi,  and  refer  the  question  to  him.”  They 
agreed;  and  all  went  to  him  so  that  he  might  name  who  was 
the  superior  among  them.  When  they  all  had  arrived  at 
Njambi’s  Town,  he  asked,  “What  is  the  affair  on  which  you 
have  come?”  They  replied,  “We  have  come  together  here, 
not  to  visit,  but  for  a purpose.  We  have  a discussion  and  a 
doubt  among  ourselves.  We  wish  to  know,  of  all  the  Birds, 
who  is  Head  or  Chief.  Each  one  says  for  himself  that  he  is 
the  superior.  This  one,  because  he  knows  how  to  fly  well; 
that  one  because  he  can  speak  well;  and  another  one,  because 
he  is  strong.  But,  of  these  three  things, — flight,  speech, 
and  strength,  we  ask  you,  which  is  the  greatest?” 

Immediately  all  the  Birds  began  a competition,  each  one 
saying,  “Choose  me;  I know  how  to  speak!”  Njambi 
silenced  them,  and  bade  them,  “Well,  then,  come  here!  I 
know  that  you  all  speak.  But,  show  me,  each  one  of  you, 
your  manner  of  speaking.  ” 

So  Eagle  stood  up  to  be  examined.  Njambi  asked  him, 
“How  do  you  speak?  What  is  your  manner  of  talking?” 
Eagle  began  to  scream,  “So-o-we!  so-o-we!  so-o-we!”  Njambi 
said,  “Good!  Now  call  me  your  wife!”  The  wife  of  Eagle 


56 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


came,  and  Njambi  said  to  her,  “You  are  the  wife  of  Ngwa- 
nyani,  how  do  you  talk?  ” The  wife  replied,  “ I say,  ‘ So-o-we ! 
So-o-we!  So-o-we!’  ” Ra-Njambi  said  to  Eagle,  “Indeed! 
you  and  your  wife  speak  the  same  kind  of  language.  ” Eagle 
answered,  “Yes;  I and  my  wife,  we  speak  alike.”  They  were 
ordered,  “Sit  you  aside.” 

Then  Ra-Njambi  directed,  “Bring  me  here  Ngozo. ” And 
he  asked,  “Ngozo,  how  do  you  talk?  What  is  your  way  of 
speaking?”  Parrot  squawked,  “I  say,  ‘Ko-do-ko!’  ” Ra- 
Njambi  ordered,  “Well,  call  me  your  wife!”  She  came;  and 
he  asked  her,  “How  do  you  talk?  Talk  now!”  The  wife 
replied,  “I  say,  ‘Ko-do-ko!’”  Njambi  asked  Parrot,  “So! 
your  wife  says,  ‘Ko-do-ko?’  ” Parrot  answered  “Yes;  my 
wife  and  I both  say,  ‘ Ko-do-ko.  ’ ” 

Njambi  then  ordered,  “Call  me  here,  Ugulungu.”  He 
came,  and  was  asked,  “And  how  do  you  talk?”  He  shouted, 
“I  say,  ‘Mbru-ka-ka!  mbru-ka-ka!  mbru!’”  Njambi  told 
him,“  Call  me  your  wife ! ” She  came,  and,  when  asked,  spoke 
in  the  same  way  as  her  husband.  Njambi  dismissed  them, 
“Good!  you  and  your  wife  say  the  same  thing.  Good!” 

So,  all  the  Birds,  in  succession,  were  summoned;  and  they 
all,  husband  and  wife,  had  the  same  mode  of  speaking,  ex- 
cept one  who  had  not  hitherto  been  called. 

Njambi  finally  said,  “Call  Njagani  here!”  The  Cock 
stood  up,  and  strutted  forward.  Njambi  asked  him,  “What 
is  your  speech?  Show  me  your  mode  of  talking!”  Cock 
threw  up  his  head,  stretched  his  throat,  and  crowed,  “Ka- 
ka-re-kaa.’’  Njambi  said,  “Good!  summon  your  wife 
hither.”  The  wife  came;  and,  of  her,  Njambi  asked,  “And, 
what  do  you  say?”  She  demurely  replied,  “My  husband 
told  me  that  I might  talk  only  if  I bore  children.  So,  when 
I lay  an  egg,  I say  ‘Kwa-ka!  Kwa-ka!’  ” Njambi  ex- 
claimed, “So!  you  don’t  say,  ‘Ka-ka-re-kaa,’ like  your  hus- 
band?” She  replied,  “No,  I do  not  talk  as  he.” 

Then  Njambi  said  to  Cock,  “For  what  reason  do  you  not 
allow  your  wife  to  say,  ‘Ka-ka-re-kaa?’”  Cock  replied,  “I 
am  Njagani,  I respect  myself.  I jeer  at  all  these  other  birds. 
Their  wives  and  themselves  speak  only  in  the  same  way.  A 
visitor,  if  he  comes  to  their  towns,  is  not  able  to  know,  wdien 
one  of  them  speaks,  which  is  husband  and  which  is  wife, 
because  they  both  speak  alike.  But  I,  Njagani,  as  to  my 
wife,  she  is  unable  to  speak  as  I do.  I do  not  allow  it.  A 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


57 


husband  should  be  at  the  head;  and  in  his  wife  it  is  not  be- 
coming for  her  to  be  equal  with  him  or  to  talk  as  w’ell  as  he 
does.  ” 

Njambi  listened  to  this  long  speech;  and  then  inquired, 
“Have  you  finished?”  Chicken  answered,  “Yes.” 

Njambi  summoned  all  the  Birds  to  stand  together  in  one 
place  near  him,  and  he  said,  “The  affair  which  you  brought 
to  me,  I settle  it  thus: — Njagani  is  your  Head;  because  you 
others  all  speak,  husband  and  wife,  each  alike.  But,  he 
speaks  for  himself  in  his  own  way,  and  his  wife  in  her  way; 
to  showT  that  a husband  has  priority  and  superiority  over  a 
wife.  Therefore,  as  he  knows  how  to  be  Head  of  his  family, 
it  is  settled  that  Njagani  is  Head  also  of  your  Tribe.” 

But,  Njambi  went  on  to  say,  “Though  this  is  true,  you, 
Njagani,  don’t  you  go  back  again  into  the  Forest,  to  your 
Kingship  of  the  Birds.  For  the  other  birds  will  be  jealous 
of  you.  You  are  not  strong,  you  cannot  fight  them  all. 
Lest  they  kill  you,  stay  with  me  in  my  Town.” 

Cock  went  to  get  his  wife  and  children,  and  returned  and 
remained  there  with  Ra-Njambi.  Therefore,  the  original 
bird  to  dwell  among  Mankind  was  the  chicken. 

When  the  other  Birds  scattered  and  went  back  to  their 
own  forest  country  without  their  king,  they  said,  “Let  it  be 
so!  We  will  not  choose  another  King.  Our  King  has  left 
us,  and  has  emigrated  to  another  country,  and  has  sat  down 
in  Njambi’s  Town.  ” 

So,  the  Birds  have  lived  in  the  forest  without  any  King. 


There  is  another  story  which  gives  a different  explanation 
of  chickens  being  the  first  of  birds  to  dwell  among  Mankind. 

The  Birds  had  no  fire.  They  had  to  eat  their  food  raw, 
and  to  shiver  on  cold  days.  In  flying  over  the  other  coun- 
tries, they  saw  Mankind  using,  in  the  preparation  of  their 
food,  a thing  which  birds  did  not  have.  They  observed 
that  that  thing  seemed  to  add  much  to  the  comfort  of  Man- 
kind. So,  they  chose  Chicken,  not  as  their  King,  but,  be- 
cause he  knew  so  well  how  to  speak,  to  go  as  their  messenger, 
to  ask  Mankind  to  share  that  thing  with  them.  Chicken 


58  WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 

left  the  Forest,  and  started  on  his  journey,  and  came  to  the 
towns  of  Men. 

He  found  so  much  food  lying  around,  and  it  tasted  so  good 
because  it  had  been  touched  by  that  bright  thing  which  he 
heard  people  call  “Fire,”  that  he  delayed  the  delivery  of  his 
message.  And  Men  were  pleased  with  his  usefulness  in 
awaking  them  in  the  morning,  as  he  called  them  to  get  up 
and  make  their  fires.  The  situation  was  so  comfortable,  as 
Mankind  allowed  him  to  walk  in  and  out  of  their  houses  at 
will,  that  he  forgot  his  errand,  and  chose  to  stay  with  Men, 
and  never  went  back  to  the  Forest. 

The  birds,  having  no  one  else  who  united  both  audacity  to 
act  and  ability  to  speak,  never  sent  another  messenger  on  that 
errand,  and  they  remain  wdthout  fire  to  this  day. 


TALE  10 

“Njiwo  Died  of  Sleep”:  A Proverb 
Persons 

Njiwo  (A  Species  of  Antelope)  Nyare  (Ox) 


NOTE 

An  event  (the  supposed  death  of  the  red  antelope)  is 
traced  to  its  first  cause  (sleep)  back  of  the  immediate  causes 
(the  people  who  actually  sought  to  kill  him).  Whence  the 
proverb,  “Eziwo  a juwi  na  Antyavina.  ” “Eziwo”  is  a 
familiar  way  of  pronouncing  Njiwo. 


Antelope  and  Ox  went  to  a town  to  dance  Bweti  (a  certain 
spirit-dance).  After  the  dance,  Antelope,  exhausted  wdth 
the  exercise,  fell  asleep  in  the  Bwreti-house.  While  he  was 
there,  certain  persons  made  a plot  to  kill  him.  Ox  heard  of 
it,  and  came  to  warn  him,  calling  gently,  (lest  he  should  be 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


59 


overheard  and  himself  seized),  “Njiwo!  Eziwo!”  But 
antelope  did  not  hear,  and  Ox  made  no  further  effort,  and 
ran  away  to  his  home  in  fear  for  his  own  life. 

Then  came  Antelope’s  wife,  while  he  still  slept,  and  loudly 
called  him.  He,  only  half-awake,  grumbled,  “What  do  you 
call  me  for?  Let  me  rest.  I ’m  tired  by  the  dancing.  ” She 
persisted,  “I  call  you  because  certain  persons  want  to  kill 
you.”  But,  he,  still  heavy  with  sleep,  did  not  understand, 
and  was  not  willing  to  rise,  and  went  on  sleeping.  Then  his 
wife,  unable  to  arouse  him,  went  to  call  other  people  to  help 
her. 

While  she  was  away,  his  enemies  came  and  tied  him  with 
ropes,  and  left  him  there  tied,  still  sleeping,  alone  in  the 
house.  They  locked  the  house,  and  went  away,  intending 
to  return  and  kill  him  when  he  should  awake.  Before  they 
came  back,  his  wife  returned  with  aid ; and,  with  machetes  and 
knives,  they  cut  open  the  door,  and  found  him  with  his  limbs 
tied,  and  still  sleeping.  They  roughly  shook  him,  and  he, 
half-conscious,  asked,  “What  do  you  want  here?”  His 
wife  replied,  “I  have  come  to  carry  you  away.”  So,  she 
untied  the  ropes,  and  they  lifted  him  and  carried  him  away, 
still  too  sleepy  to  walk  himself. 

While  all  this  was  going  on,  the  people  of  the  town  to  which 
Ox  had  fled,  asked  him,  “There  were  two  of  you  who  went 
to  dance  Bweti.  You  are  here,  but  where  is  the  other?” 
Ox,  assuming  that  Antelope  was  dead,  and  not  knowing  what 
Antelope’s  wife  had  done,  told  how  he  had  been  unable  to 
waken  him,  and  said,  “ Eziwo  was  killed  while  asleep.  ” Then 
the  village  people  said  regretfully,  “Eh!  Eziwo!  Sleep  has 
killed  him!” 

In  the  meantime,  Antelope  and  his  wife  had  reached  the 
town,  where  the  news  of  his  death  had  preceded  them;  and 
the  people  wondered,  saying,  “Nyare  reported  that  you  were 
cut  to  pieces!”  Then  Antelope’s  wife  explained  that  he 
would  have  been  killed,  because  Ox  had  not  made  every 
effort  to  arouse  him  from  his  deep  sleep. 

So  the  friendship  of  Ox  and  Antelope  ended.  And  the 
proverb  came,  that,  “Eziwo  died  of  sleep.” 


60 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


TALE  11 

Which  is  the  Fattest? 
Persons 


King  Ra-Mborakinda  Ngowa  (Hog;  PI.  Ingowa) 

Manga  (Manatus)  Arandi  (Oyster) 

NOTE 

Accept  no  challenge  whose  test  you  know  you  cannot  en- 
dure. Oyster,  without  fat,  accepted  the  challenge  of  the  fat 
Hog  and  the  fatter  Manatus. 

The  fat  of  the  Manatus,  or  dugong  seal,  is  delicious  and 
very  abundant. 


Ra-Mborakinda  was  dwelling  in  his  Town,  with  his  people 
and  the  glory  of  his  Kingdom.  There  were  gathered  there 
the  Manatus,  the  Oyster  and  the  Hog,  waiting  to  be  assigned 
their  kingdoms.  To  pass  the  time,  while  waiting  until  the 
King  should  summon  them  for  their  assignments,  Oyster 
said,  “You,  Manga,  and  Ngowa,  let  us  have  a dance!”  And 
they  went  to  exhibit  before  the  King.  They  danced  and 
danced,  each  one  dancing  his  own  special  dance. 

After  that  they  made  a fire,  each  one  at  his  own  fire-place, 
and  sat  down  to  rest.  Then  Hog  proposed  a new  entertain- 
ment. He  said,  “You,  Arandi,  and  Manga,  we  all  three 
shall  test  ourselves  by  fire,  to  see  who  has  the  most  fat.” 
And  they  all  three  went  into  their  respective  fire-places, 
Hog  into  his,  and  Manatus  into  his,  and  Oyster  into  its. 
Under  the  influence  of  the  heat,  the  fat  in  their  bodies  began 
to  melt. 

Then  the  King  announced,  “To  the  one  who  shall  prove 
to  have  the  most  fat,  I will  give  a great  extent  of  country  as 
its  kingdom.  ” So,  they  all  three  tried  to  show  much  fat,  in 
their  effort  to  win  the  prize. 

Presently,  the  fat  of  Hog  began  to  cease  exuding,  for  he 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


61 


had  not  a great  deal.  As  to  Oyster,  it  had  no  fat.  What  it 
produced  was  not  fat  at  all,  but  water;  and  that  wTas  in  such 
quantity  that  it  put  out  its  fire. 

These  facts  about  the  Hog  and  Oyster  were  reported  to 
the  King,  and  when  he  inquired  how  Manatus  was  getting 
on,  lo!  it  was  found  that  she  had  such  abundance  of  fat, 
that  the  oil  flowing  from  her  had  burst  into  flame  and  had  set 
the  town  on  fire. 

At  this,  the  King  wondered,  and  exclaimed,  “This  Manga, 
that  lives  in  the  water,  has  yet  enough  fat  to  set  the  town 
afire !” 

Then  Manatus  with  Hog  and  Oyster  went  and  sat  to- 
gether in  the  open  court  before  the  King’s  house,  to  await 
what  would  be  his  decision.  When  he  was  ready,  he  sent 
two  heralds  to  summon  not  only  those  three,  but  all  the 
Tribes  of  the  Beasts  of  the  Forest,  and  of  the  Fishes  of  the 
Sea;  and  the  town  was  full  of  these  visitors.  But,  Hog  and 
all  his  tribe  had  become  impatient  of  waiting,  and  had  gone 
off  for  a walk.  All  the  other  animals  that  had  been  sum- 
moned, came  into  the  King’s  presence,  and  he,  having  as- 
cended his  throne,  said,  “I  am  ready  now  to  speak  with 
these  three  persons;  but,  I see  that  the  Ingowa  are  not  here. 
So,  because  of  their  disrespect  in  going  off  to  amuse  them- 
selves with  a walk  instead  of  waiting  for  me,  I condemn  that 
they  shall  no  longer  wear  any  horns.  ” 

Then  the  King  announced  that,  as  Manatus  had  the 
most  fat,  her  promised  territory  should  be  the  Sea,  and  of  it 
she  should  be  ruler.  But,  Manatus  said,  “I  do  not  want  to 
live  in  the  Sea,  lest  I be  killed  there.”  The  King  asked, 
“Then,  where  will  you  prefer  to  five?”  She  answered,  “In 
such  rivers  as  I shall  like.  ” 

That  is  the  reason  that  the  Manatus  lives  only  in  rivers 
and  bays.  For,  one  day  she  and  her  children  had  floated 
with  the  tide  to  the  mouth  of  a river  and  into  the  Sea;  and 
some  of  them  had  been  killed  there  by  sharks  and  other  big 
fish.  So,  the  Manatus  is  never  now  found  near  the  Sea  on 
ordinary  tides,  but  only  when  high  tides  have  swept  it  down. 

Just  as  the  King  had  made  his  announcement,  the  com- 
pany of  Hogs  returned  and  entered  the  Assembly.  They 
explained,  “We  have  just  come  back  from  our  wTalk,  and  we 
wish  to  resume  our  horns  which  we  left  here.”  But  the 


62 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


King  refused,  and  kept  possession  of  the  horns.  Hog 
begged,  “Please!  let  me  have  my  horns!”  But  the  King 
swore  an  oath,  saying,  “0  savi!  (By  the  Blessing!)  wherever 
you  go,  and  whatever  you  be,  you  shall  have  no  horns.” 
So  the  Hogs  departed. 

Now  Oyster  stood  up,  and  said,  “I  wish  to  go  to  my  place. 
Where  shall  it  be?”  The  King  said,  “I  will  give  you  no 
other  place  than  what  you  already  have  had.  I do  not 
wish  to  put  you  into  the  fresh-water  springs  and  brooks  with 
Manga.  You  shall  go  into  the  salty  waters.”  So 
Oyster  went;  and  its  race  lives  on  the  edge  of  the  rivers,  near 
the  Sea,  in  brackish  waters.  And  the  King  said  to  Oyster, 
“All  the  tribes  of  Mankind,  by  the  Sea,  when  they  fail  to 
obtain  other  fish,  shall  be  allowed  to  eat  you.  ” 

All  knew  that  this  was  a punishment  given  by  the  King  to 
Oyster,  for  having  dared  the  test  by  fire,  pretending  that  it 
had  fat,  the  while  it  had  none. 


TALE  12 

Why  Mosquitoes  Buzz 
Persons 


Mbo  (Mosquito)  Aga  (Hands) 

Oroi  (Ear) 


NOTE 

It  is  a practice  of  African  natives,  after  taking  a bath,  to 
anoint  their  bodies  with  some  oil  or  grease. 


In  the  time  of  Long-ago,  in  Njambi’s  Town,  Mosquito 
and  Ear  went  out  to  take  a bath  together.  After  taking 
her  bath,  Ear  began  to  rub  an  oily  substance  over  herself; 
while  Mosquito  did  not.  So  Ear  said  to  Mosquito,  “Why 
do  you  leave  your  skin  so  rough?  It  is  better  to  rub  on  a 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


63 


little  oil.”  Mosquito  replied,  “I  have  none.”  So  Ear  said, 
“Indeed!  I did  not  know  that.  I will  give  you  part  of 
mine,  as  I have  plenty.”  Mosquito  had  to  wait  the  while 
that  Ear  was  rubbing  the  soft  wax  over  herself.  But,  as 
soon  as  Ear  had  finished,  she  put  back  the  wax  into  her  ear 
where  she  usually  kept  it,  and  did  not  fulfill  her  promise  to 
Mosquito. 

When  Mosquito  saw  this,  that  the  wax  was  put  away,  he 
came  near  to  the  door,  and  said,  “I  want  the  oil  you  promised 
for  rubbing  on  my  body.”  But  Ear  took  no  notice  of  him, 
except  to  call  on  Hands  to  drive  Mosquito  away. 

So,  to  this  day,  Mosquito  is  not  willing  to  cease  making 
his  claim  for  the  unfulfilled  promise;  and  is  always  coming 
to  our  ears,  and  buzzing  and  crying.  Always  Mosquito 
comes  and  says,  “I  want  my  oil,  Bz-z-z-z. ” But  Ear  re- 
mains silent,  and  gives  no  answer.  And  Mosquito  keeps  on 
grumbling  and  complaining,  and  gets  angry  and  bites. 


TALE  13 

Unkind  Criticism 


Persons 

Tyema  (A  Black  Monkey)  Ekaga  (Tortoise) 


NOTE 

This  story  is  probably  of  comparatively  recent  origin 
though  known  at  least  fifty  years  ago.  It  seems  to  point 
to  the  time  when  white  men  began  to  taunt  negroes  because 
of  their  color,  the  common  insult  by  an  angry  white  master 
being  “You  black  monkey!”  The  tale  cannot  antedate  the 
first  coming  of  white  men  to  West  Africa  three  hundred 


64 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


years  ago;  for,  no  native  would  have  invented  this  insult, 
though  they  do  now  imitate  white  men,  when,  in  a quarrel, 
they  wish  to  taunt  an  opponent. 

The  Black  Monkey,  up  a tree,  saw  Tortoise  passing  be- 
neath, slowly  and  awkwardly  moving  step  by  step.  Monkey 
laughed  at  the  dull  manner  and  appearance  of  Tortoise;  and, 
to  tease  one  whom  he  thought  stupid  and  unable  to  resent 
insult,  he  jumped  down  onto  the  back  of  Tortoise.  There, 
safely  perched,  he  jeered  at  Tortoise,  saying  many  unkind 
things.  Tortoise  was  unable  to  throw  off  his  tormentor; 
nor  could  he  reach  him.  His  short  hands  and  feet  could  not 
touch  Monkey.  So,  Tortoise  was  compelled  to  carry  Mon- 
key on  the  way,  the  while  that  the  latter  was  taunting  him. 
Finally,  the  patience  of  Tortoise  was  exhausted,  and,  his 
indignation  being  aroused,  he  stopped,  and  said  angrily, 
“Get  off  of  my  back,  you  black  monkey!” 

Monkey  was  sensitive  about  his  color;  and,  at  that  word 
“black,”  he  slipped  off,  and  went  away  ashamed.  But  he 
was  angry  also,  and  determined  to  have  some  revenge. 

Some  time  after  this,  Monkey  made  a feast,  and  invited  a 
number  of  beasts,  among  the  rest  Tortoise.  But  Monkey 
purposely  placed  all  the  dishes  up  high,  so  that  Tortoise, 
unable  to  reach  to  them,  could  get  no  food,  as  he  vainly  went 
around  and  around  the  table.  All  the  while.  Monkey  was 
sarcastically  urging  him  to  come  and  help  himself  and  eat. 
Tortoise  bore  it  without  complaint;  and  at  the  end  of  the 
feast,  he  went  away  hungry.  But  he  also  determined  to 
have  his  revenge. 

On  another  day,  Tortoise  made  a feast,  and  invited  the 
same  persons  who  had  seen  his  humiliation  at  the  house  of 
Monkey.  Monkey  came  to  the  feast.  But  Tortoise  had 
prepared  the  food  in  only  one  dish,  around  which  the  com- 
pany were  to  sit  on  the  ground,  and  from  which  they  were 
to  eat  with  their  hands.  Before  calling  them  to  eat,  Tortoise 
had  provided  water  and  soap  for  them  to  wash  their  hands 
previous  to  their  putting  them  into  the  same  dish.  As 
Monkey  was  about  to  put  his,  Tortoise  reminded  him  that 
it  was  black,  and  that  he  should  first  wash  it.  He  said, 
“Here  is  water,  and  the  soap  by  which  white  people  keep 
their  hands  from  getting  black.” 

Monkey  was  ashamed,  and  lathered  the  soap  over  his 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


65 


hands  until  they  were  white  with  foam.  “Now,”  said  Tor- 
toise, “put  your  hand  into  the  water  to  remove  the  foam.” 
Monkey  did  so;  and  his  hands  were  still  black. 

The  rest  of  the  company  objected  to  his  black  hand  going 
into  their  food.  And  he  went  away  ashamed  and  hungry. 


TALE  14 

The  Suitors  of  Princess  Gorilla 
Place 


Njambi’s  Country 


Persons 


King  Njina  (Gorilla)  and  His 
Daughter 
Njagu  (Elephant) 

Nguwu  (Hippopotamus) 
Bejaka  (Fishes:  Sing.  Ej aka) 


Ngowa  (Hog) 

Njega  (Leopard) 

Telinga  (a  very  small  Mon- 
key) 


NOTE 

This  story  evidently  dates  back  to  the  first  introduction 
of  Rum  into  Africa.  Gorilla’s  “new  kind  of  water”  was 
Rum. 

Telinga’s  cheating  did  not  finally  succeed  in  obtaining 
him  the  wife;  but  was  the  cause  of  his  now  living  only  in 
trees;  whereas  formerly  he  lived  in  the  long  grass.  The 
Telinga  are  very  numerous,  and  they  all  look  so  alike  that 
one  cannot  be  distinguished  from  another.  In  the  story,  he 
had  arranged  with  all  his  companions  to  help  him  drink. 

In  the  Gorilla  Country  there  are  no  lions,  and  there  he  is 
readily  called  the  King  of  Beasts,  because  of  the  fearful 
length  and  strength  of  his  arms. 

How  absurd  that  so  horribly  ugly  a caricature  of  a human 
being  should  be  supposed  to  have  a beautiful  daughter! 


66 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


King  Gorilla  had  a daughter,  whose  beauty  had  been 
much  praised.  She  being  of  marriageable  age,  he  announced 
to  all  the  tribes  that  he  would  give  her  in  marriage  to  any 
one  who  could  accomplish  a certain  task.  He  said  he  would 
not  take  any  of  the  goods  usually  given  in  payment  for  a 
wife,  as  dowry.  But,  that  he  had  a new  kind  of  water,  such 
as  had  never  before  been  seen;  and,  whoever  could  drink 
an  entire  barrelful  of  it,  should  have  the  prize  that  had  been 
coveted  by  many. 

So,  all  the  tribes  came  together  one  day  in  the  forest 
country  of  the  King,  to  compete  for  the  young  woman,  and 
the  paths  were  crowded  with  the  expectant  suitors  on  their 
way  to  the  King’s  Court. 

First,  because  of  his  size,  Elephant  stepped  forward.  He 
walked  with  his  solemn  dignity,  his  ponderous  feet  sounding, 
tubu,  tubu,  as  he  strode  toward  where  the  barrel  stood.  He 
could,  however,  scarcely  suppress  his  indignation,  in  the 
presence  of  the  King,  at  what  he  considered  the  insultingly 
small  test  to  which  he  was  about  to  be  subjected.  He 
thought  in  his  heart,  “That  barrelful  of  water!  Why!  I, 
Njagu,  when  I take  my  daily  bath,  I spurt  from  my  trunk 
many  barrelfuls  over  my  whole  body,  and  I drink  half  a 
barrelful  at  every  meal.  And  this!  Why!  I’ll  swallow 
it  down  in  two  gulps!”  He  thrust  his  proboscis  into  the 
barrel  to  draw  up  a big  mouthful.  But,  he  instantly  with- 
drew it,  before  he  began  to  suck  up  any  of  it.  “The  new 
water”  stung  him.  He  lifted  his  trunk,  and  trumpeting 
with  rage,  declared  that  the  task  was  impossible. 

Many  in  the  company,  who  had  feared  that  the  big  ele- 
phant would  leave  no  chance  for  them,  secretly  rejoiced  at 
his  failure;  and  began  to  hope  for  themselves. 

Then  Hippopotamus  blundered  forward.  He  was  in 
haste,  for  he  was  sure  he  would  succeed.  He  was  not  as 
big  or  heavy  as  Elephant,  though  he  was  more  awkward. 
But  he  did  not  hesitate  to  boast  aloud  what  he  could  do. 
“You,  Njagu,  with  your  big  body,  afraid  of  that  little  barrel 
of  water!  Why!  I live  in  water  half  of  the  time.  And 
when  I begin  to  drink  in  a river,  I cause  the  Bejeka  to  be 
frightened.”  So  he  came  bellowing  and  roaring,  in  order 
to  impress  the  young  woman  with  his  importance.  But  his 
mouth  had  not  sunk  into  the  barrel  as  he  thrust  his  nose  in, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


67 


before  he  jerked  his  head  up  with  a bigger  bellow  of  pain  and 
disgust  at  the  new  water.  Without  making  even  a bow  to 
the  King,  he  shambled  off  to  a river  to  wash  his  mouth. 

Next  came  Hog.  He  said  to  Gorilla,  “King  Gorilla,  I 
do  not  boast  like  those  two  other  fellows,  nor  will  I insult 
you  as  they  have  done,  even  if  I fail.  But,  I do  not  think  I 
shall  fail.  I am  accustomed  to  putting  my  nose  into  all 
sorts  of  dirty  places;  so  I shall  try.  ” He  did  try,  slowly  and 
carefully.  But,  even  he,  used  to  all  sorts  of  filth  and  bad 
smells,  turned  from  the  barrel  in  disgust,  and  went  away 
grunting. 

Then  Leopard  came  bounding  forward,  boasting  and 
jumping  from  side  to  side  to  show  his  beautiful  skin  to  the 
young  woman.  He  derided  the  other  three  who  had  pre- 
ceded him.  “0!  you  fellows!  You  had  no  chance  at  all, 
even  if  you  had  drunk  up  that  water.  The  woman  would 
not  look  at  you,  nor  live  with  such  blundering,  awkward 
gawks  as  you.  Look  at  my  graceful  body  and  tail!  These 
strong  but  soft  paws  of  mine!  And,  as  to  that  barrel,  you 
shall  see  in  a few  minutes.  Though  we  of  the  Cat  Tribe  do 
not  like  to  wet  our  feet,  I will  do  it  for  the  sake  of  the  woman. 
I’m  the  dandy  of  the  Forest,  and  I shall  go  at  it  more  grace- 
fully than  you.  ” He  leaped  onto  the  barrel.  But,  its  very 
fumes  sickened  him.  He  made  one  vain  effort.  And  with 
limp  tail  between  his  legs  he  crawled  away  to  hide  his  shame. 

One  after  another  of  the  various  Beasts  attempted.  And 
all  failed.  Finally,  there  crept  forward  the  little  Telinga. 
He  had  left  the  hundreds  of  his  Tribe  of  little  Monkeys 
hidden  out  in  the  grass  field.  As  he  advanced,  there  was  a 
murmur  of  surprise  from  the  unsuccessful  spectators.  Even 
King  Gorilla  could  not  refrain  from  saying,  “Well!  my  little 
fellow!  what  do  you  want?”  Telinga  replied,  “Your  Majes- 
ty, did  not  you  send  word  to  all  the  Tribes  that  any  one 
might  compete?”  “Yes,  I did,”  he  answered.  And  Telinga 
said,  “Then  I,  Telinga,  small  as  I am,  I shall  try.”  The 
King  replied,  “I  will  keep  my  royal  word.  You  may  try.” 
“But,  Your  Majesty,”  asked  Telinga,  “is  it  required  that 
the  barrel  must  be  drank  at  one  draught?  May  I not,  be- 
tween each  mouthful,  take  a very  short  rest  out  in  the  grass?” 
Said  Gorilla,  “Certainly,  just  so  you  drink  it  today.” 

So  Telinga  took  a sip,  and  leaped  off  into  the  grass.  And, 


68 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


apparently,  he  immediately  returned,  and  took  another  sip 
and  leaped  back  into  the  grass;  and,  apparently,  immediately 
returned  again.  And  apparently — (They  were  his  com- 
panions who  had  come  one  by  one  to  help  him!)  Thus  the 
barrelful  of  firewater  was  rapidly  sipped  away. 

King  Gorilla  announced  Telinga  as  the  winner  of  the  prize. 

What  the  young  woman  thought  of  the  loss  of  her  graceful 
lovers,  the  Antelopes  and  others,  is  not  known.  For,  when 
Telinga  advanced  to  take  her,  Leopard  and  others  dashed 
at  him,  shouting,  “You  miserable  little  snip  of  a fellow! 
You’ve  won  her;  but  if  we  can’t  have  her  you  shan’t.  There ! 
take  that!  and  that!  and  that!”  as  they  began  to  beat  and 
kick  and  bite  him. 

In  terror,  he  jumped  into  the  trees,  abandoning  his 
bride. 

And  he  and  his  tribe  have  remained  in  the  trees  ever 
since,  afraid  to  come  down  to  the  ground. 


TALE  15 


Leopard  of  the  Fine  Skin 


Place 


Town  of  King  Mborakinda 
Persons 


King  Mborakinda 
Ilambe,  His  Daughter 
Ra-Marange,  A Doctor 
And  Other  People 


Njega  (Leopard) 

Kabala  (A  Magic  Horse) 
Ogula- Y a-  Mpazy  a- V azy  a, 


A Sorcerer 


NOTE 


Leopards  can  swim  if  compelled  to,  but  they  do  not  like  to 
enter  water,  or  wet  their  feet  in  any  way. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


69 


At  the  town  of  Ra-Mborakinda,  where  he  lived  with  his 
wives  and  his  children  and  his  glory,  this  occurred. 

He  had  a beloved  daughter,  by  name  Ilambe.  He  loved 
her  much;  and  sought  to  please  her  in  many  ways,  and  gave 
her  many  servants  to  serve  her.  When  she  grew  up  to 
womanhood,  she  said  that  she  did  not  wish  any  one  to  come 
to  ask  her  in  marriage;  that  she  herself  would  choose  a hus- 
band. “Moreover,  I will  never  marry  any  man  who  has 
any,  even  a little  bit  of,  blotch  on  his  skin.  ” 

Her  father  did  not  like  her  to  speak  in  that  way;  neverthe- 
less, he  did  not  forbid  her. 

When  men  began  to  come  to  the  father  and  say,  “ I desire 
your  daughter  Ilambe  for  a wife,”  he  would  say,  “Go,  and 
ask  herself.”  Then  when  the  man  went  to  Ilambe’s house, 
and  would  say,  “I  have  come  to  ask  you  in  marriage,”  her 
only  reply  was  a question,  “Have  you  a clear  skin,  and  no 
blotches  on  your  body?”  If  he  answered,  “Yes,”  Ilambe 
would  say,  “ But,  I must  see  for  myself;  come  into  my  room.  ” 
There  she  required  the  man  to  take  off  all  his  clothing.  And 
if,  on  examination,  she  saw  the  slightest  pimple  or  scar,  she 
would  point  toward  it,  and  say,  “That!  I do  not  want  you.” 
Then  perhaps  he  would  begin  to  plead,  “All  my  skin  is  right, 
except — .”  But  she  would  interrupt  him,  “No!  for  even 
that  little  mark  I- do  not  want  you.” 

So  it  went  on  with  all  who  came,  she  finding  fault  with 
even  a small  pimple  or  scar.  And  all  suitors  were  rejected. 
The  news  spread  abroad  that  Ra-Mborakinda  had  a beauti- 
ful daughter,  but  that  no  one  was  able  to  obtain  her,  because 
of  what  she  said  about  diseases  of  the  skin. 

Still,  many  tried  to  obtain  her.  Even  animals  changed 
themselves  to  human  form,  and  sought  her,  in  vain. 

At  last,  Leopard  said,  “Ah!  this  beautiful  woman!  I hear 
about  her  beauty,  and  that  no  one  is  able  to  get  her.  I 
think  I better  take  my  turn,  and  try.  But,  first  I will  go  to 
Ra-Marange.”  He  went  to  that  magic-doctor,  and  told  his 
story  about  Ra-Mborakinda’ s fine  daughter,  and  how  no  man 
could  get  her  because  of  her  fastidiousness  about  skins. 
Ra-Marange  told  him,  “I  am  too  old.  I do  not  now  do 
those  things  about  medicines.  Go  to  Ogula-ya-mpazya- 
vazya.” 

So,  Leopard  went  to  him.  As  usual,  the  sorcerer  Ogula 


70 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


jumped  into  his  fire;  and  coming  out  with  power,  directed 
Leopard  to  tell  what  he  wanted.  So  he  told  the  whole  story 
again,  and  asked  how  he  should  obtain  the  clean  body  of  a 
man.  The  sorcerer  prepared  for  him  a great  “medicine ’ * 
by  which  to  give  him  a human  body,  tall,  graceful,  strong 
and  clean.  Leopard  then  went  back  to  his  town,  told  his 
people  his  plans,  and  prepared  their  bodies  also  for  a change 
if  needed.  Having  taken  also  a human  name,  Ogula,  he 
then  went  to  Ra-Mborakinda,  saying,  “I  wish  your  daughter 
Ilambe  for  wife.  ” 

On  his  arrival,  at  Ra-Mborakinda’s,  the  people  admired 
the  stranger,  and  felt  sure  that  Ilambe  would  accept  this 
suitor,  exclaiming,  “This  fine-looking  man!  his  face!  and  his 
gait!  and  his  body!”  When  he  had  made  his  request  of 
Ra-Mborakinda,  he  was  told,  as  usual,  to  go  to  Ilambe  and 
see  whether  she  would  like  him.  When  he  went  to  her 
house,  he  looked  so  handsomely,  that  Ilambe  was  at  once 
pleased  with  him.  He  told  her,  “I  love  you;  and  I come  to 
marry  you.  You  have  refused  many.  I know  the  reason 
why,  but  I think  you  will  be  satisfied  with  me.  ” She  replied, 
“I  think  you  have  heard  from  others  the  reason  for  which  I 
refuse  men.  I will  see  whether  you  have  what  I want.” 
And  she  added,  “Let  us  go  into  the  room;  and  let  me  see 
your  skin.  ” 

They  entered  the  room;  and  Ogula-Njega  removed  his  fine 
clothing.  Ilambe  examined  with  close  scrutiny  from  his 
head  to  his  feet.  She  found  not  the  slightest  scratch  or  mark; 
his  skin  was  like  a babe’s.  Then  she  said,  “Yes!  this  is  my 
man!  truly!  I love  you,  and  will  marry  you!”  She  was  so 
pleased  with  her  acquisition,  that  she  remained  in  the  room 
enjoying  again  a minute  examination  of  her  husband’s 
beautiful  skin.  Then  she  went  out,  and  ordered  her  servants 
to  cook  food,  prepare  water,  etc.,  for  him;  and  he  did  not  go 
out  of  the  house,  nor  have  a longing  to  go  back  to  his  town, 
for  he  found  that  he  was  loved. 

On  the  third  day,  he  went  to  tell  the  father,  Ra-Mboraki- 
nda, that  he  was  ready  to  take  his  wife  off  to  his  town.  Ra- 
Mborakinda  consented.  All  that  day,  they  prepared  food 
for  the  marriage-feast.  But,  all  the  while  that  this  man- 
beast,  Ogula-Njega,  was  there,  Ra-Mborakinda,  by  his 
okove  (a  magic  fetish)  knew  that  some  evil  would  come  out 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


71 


of  this  marriage.  However,  as  Ilambe  had  insisted  on  choos- 
ing her  own  way,  he  did  not  interfere. 

After  the  marriage  was  over,  and  the  feast  eaten,  Ra- 
Mborakinda  called  his  daughter,  and  said,  “Ilambe,  mine, 
now  you  are  going  off  on  your  journey.”  She  said,  “Yes; 
for  I love  my  husband.”  The  father  asked,  “Do  you  love 
him  truly?”  She  answered  “Yes.”  Then  he  told  her, 
“As  you  are  married  now,  you  need  a present  from  me,  as 
your  ozendo  (bridal  gift).”  So,  he  gave  her  a few  presents, 
and  told  her,  “Go  to  that  house,”  indicating  a certain  house 
in  the  town;  and  he  gave  her  the  key  of  the  house,  and  told 
her  to  go  and  open  the  door.  That  was  the  house  where  he 
kept  all  his  charms  for  war,  and  fetishes  of  all  kinds.  He 
told  her,  “ When  you  go  in,  you  will  see  two  Kabala,  standing 
side  by  side.  The  one  that  will  look  a little  dull,  with  its 
eyes  directed  to  the  ground,  take  it;  and  leave  the  brighter 
looking  one.  When  you  are  coming  with  it,  you  will  see  that 
it  walks  a little  lame.  Nevertheless,  take  it.  ” She  objected, 
“But,  father,  why  do  you  not  give  me  the  finer  one,  and  not 
the  wTeak  one?”  But  he  said,  “No!”  and  made  a knowing 
smile,  as  he  repeated,  “ Go,  and  take  the  one  I tell  you.  ” He 
had  reason  for  giving  this  one.  The  finer-looking  one  had 
only  fine  looks;  but  this  other  one  would  some  day  save  her 
by  its  intelligence. 

She  went  and  took  Horse,  and  returned  to  her  father;  and 
the  journey  was  prepared.  The  father  sent  wdth  her,  servants 
to  carry  the  baggage,  and  to  remain  with  and  work  for  her 
at  the  tow  n of  her  marriage.  She  and  her  husband  arranged 
all  their  things,  and  said  good-bye,  and  off  they  went,  both 
of  them  sitting  on  Horse’s  back. 

They  journeyed  and  they  journeyed.  On  the  way,  Ogula- 
Njega,  though  changed  as  to  his  form  and  skin,  possessed 
all  his  old  tastes.  Having  been  so  many  days  without  tast- 
ing blood  or  uncooked  meats,  as  they  passed  through  the 
forest  of  wild  beasts,  the  longing  came  on  him.  They  emerged 
onto  a great  prairie,  and  journeyed  across  it  toward  another 
forest.  Before  they  had  entirely  crossed  the  prairie,  the 
longing  for  his  prey  so  overcame  him  that  he  said,  “Wife, 
you  wdth  your  Kabala  and  the  servants  stay  here  while  I go 
rapidly  ahead;  and  w’ait  for  me  until  I come  again.”  So 
he  went  off,  entered  the  forest,  and  changed  himself  back 


72 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


to  Leopard.  He  hunted  for  prey,  caught  a small  animal, 
and  ate  it;  and  another,  and  ate  it.  After  being  satisfied, 
he  washed  his  hands  and  mouth  in  a brook;  and,  changing 
again  to  human  form,  he  returned  on  the  prairie  to  his  wife. 

She  observed  him  closely,  and  saw  a hard,  strange  look  on 
his  face.  She  said,  “But,  all  this  while!  What  have  you 
been  doing?”  He  made  an  excuse.  They  went  on. 

And  the  next  day,  it  was  the  same,  he  leaving  her,  and 
telling  her  to  wait  till  he  returned;  and  hunting  and  eating  as 
a Leopard.  All  this  that  was  going  on,  Ilambe  was  ignorant 
of.  But  Horse  knew.  He  would  speak  after  awhile,  but 
was  not  ready  yet. 

So  it  went  on,  until  they  came  to  Leopard’s  town.  Before 
they  reached  it,  Ogula-Njega,  by  the  preparations  he  had 
first  made,  had  changed  his  mother  into  a human  form  in 
which  to  welcome  his  wife.  Also  the  few  people  of  the  town, 
all  with  human  forms,  welcomed  her.  But,  they  did  not 
sit  much  with  her.  They  stayed  in  their  own  houses;  and 
Ogula-Njega  and  his  wife  stayed  in  theirs.  For  a few  days, 
Leopard  tried  to  be  a pleasant  Ogula,  deceiving  his  wife.  But 
his  taste  for  blood  was  still  in  his  heart.  He  began  to  say, 
“I  am  going  to  another  town;  I have  business  there.”  And 
off  he  would  go,  hunting  as  a leopard;  when  he  returned,  it 
would  be  late  in  the  day.  So  he  did  on  other  days. 

After  a time,  Ilambe  wished  to  make  a food-plantation, 
and  sent  her  men-servants  to  clear  the  ground.  Ogula- 
Njega  would  go  around  in  the  forest  on  the  edge  of  the 
plantation;  and  catching  one  of  the  men,  there  would  return 
that  day  one  servant  less. 

One  by  one,  all  the  men-servants  were  thus  missing;  and 
it  was  not  known  what  became  of  them,  except  that  Leopard’s 
people  knew.  One  night  Ogula-Njega  was  out;  and,  meeting 
one  of  the  female  servants,  she  too  was  reported  missing. 

Sometimes,  when  Ogula-Njega  was  away,  Ilambe,  feeling 
lonesome,  would  go  and  pet  Horse.  After  the  loss  of  this 
maid-servant,  Horse  thought  it  was  time  to  warn  Ilambe  of 
what  was  going  on.  While  she  was  petting  him,  he  said, 
“Eh!  Ilambe!  you  do  not  see  the  trouble  that  is  coming 
to  you!”  She  asked,  “What  trouble?”  He  exclaimed, 
“What  trouble?  If  your  father  had  not  sent  me  with  you, 
what  would  have  become  of  you?  Where  are  all  your  ser- 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


73 


vants  that  you  brought  with  you?  You  do  not  know  where 
they  go  to,  but  I know.  Do  you  think  that  they  disappear 
without  a reason?  I will  tell  you  where  they  go.  It  is  your 
man  who  eats  them;  it  is  he  who  wastes  them!”  She  could 
not  believe  it,  and  argued,  “Why  should  he  destroy  them?” 
Horse  replied,  “ If  you  doubt  it,  wait  for  the  day  when  your 
last  remaining  servant  is  gone.  ” 

Two  days  after  that,  at  night,  another  maid-servant 
disappeared.  Another  day  passed.  On  another  day,  Ogula- 
Njega  went  off  to  hunt  beasts,  with  the  intention  that,  if 
he  failed  to  get  any,  at  night  he  would  eat  his  wife. 

When  he  had  gone,  Ilambe,  in  her  loneliness,  went  to 
fondle  Horse.  He  said  to  her,  “Did  I not  tell  you?  The 
last  maid  is  gone.  You  yourself  will  be  the  next  one.  I will 
give  you  counsel.  When  you  have  opportunity  this  night, 
prepare  yourself  ready  to  run  away.  Get  yourself  a large 
gourd,  and  fill  it  with  ground-nuts ; another  with  gourd-seeds ; 
and  another  with  water.  ” He  told  her  to  bring  these  things 
to  him,  and  he  would  know  the  best  time  to  start. 

While  they  were  talking,  Leopard’s  mother  was  out  in  the 
street,  and  heard  the  two  voices.  She  said  to  herself,  “ Ilambe, 
wife  of  my  son,  does  she  talk  with  Kabala  as  if  it  was  a per- 
son? ” But,  she  said  nothing  to  Ilambe,  nor  asked  her  about 
it. 

Night  came  on;  and  Ogula-Njega  returned.  He  said 
nothing;  but  his  face  looked  hard  and  bad.  Ilambe  was 
troubled  and  somewhat  frightened  at  his  ugly  looks.  So,  at 
night,  on  retiring,  she  began  to  ask  him,  “But  why?  Has 
anything  displeased  you?”  He  answered,  “No;  I am  not 
troubled  about  anything.  Why  do  you  ask  questions?” 
“Because  I see  it  in  your  face  that  your  countenance  is  not 
pleasant.”  “No;  there’s  no  matter.  Everything  is  right. 
Only,  about  my  business,  I think  I must  start  very  early.” 
Ogula-Njega  had  begun  to  think,  “Now  she  is  suspecting 
me.  I think  I will  not  eat  her  this  night,  but  will  put  it  off 
until  next  night.  ” 

That  night,  Ilambe  did  not  sleep.  In  the  morning,  Leo- 
pard said  that  he  would  go  to  his  business,  but  would  come 
back  soon.  When  he  was  gone  away  to  his  hunting  work, 
Ilambe  felt  lonesome,  and  went  to  Horse.  He,  thinking 
this  a good  time  to  run  away,  they  started  at  once,  without 


74 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


letting  any  one  in  the  village  know,  and  taking  with  them 
the  three  gourds.  Horse  said  that  they  must  go  quickly; 
for,  Leopard,  when  he  discovered  them  gone,  would  rapidly 
.pursue.  So  they  went  fast  and  faster,  Horse  looking  back 
from  time  to  time,  to  see  whether  Leopard  was  pursuing. 

After  they  had  been  gone  quite  a while,  Ogula-Njega 
returned  from  his  business  to  his  village,  went  into  his  house, 
and  did  not  see  Ilambe.  He  called  to  his  mother,  “ Where  is 
Ilambe?”  His  mother  answered,  “I  saw  Ilambe  with  her 
Kabala,  talking  together;  they  have  been  at  it  for  two  days.  ” 
Ogula-Njega  began  to  search;  and,  seeing  the  hoof -prints, 
he  exclaimed,  “ Mi  asaiya  (shame  forme).  Ilambe  has  run 
away.  I and  she  shall  meet  today !” 

He  instantly  turned  from  his  human  form  back  to  that 
of  leopard,  and  went  out,  and  pursued,  and  pursued,  and 
pursued.  But,  it  took  some  time  before  he  came  in  sight  of 
the  fugitives.  As  Horse  turned  to  watch,  he  saw  Leopard, 
his  body  stretched  low  and  long  in  rapid  leaps.  Horse  said 
to  Ilambe,  ‘‘Did  I not  tell  you?  There  he  is,  coming!” 
Horse  hasted,  with  foam  dropping  from  his  lips.  When  he 
saw  that  Leopard  was  gaining  on  them,  he  told  Ilambe  to 
take  the  gourd  of  peanuts  from  his  back,  and  scatter  them 
along  behind  on  the  ground.  Leopards  like  peanuts;  and 
when  Ogula-Njega  came  to  these  nuts,  he  stopped  to  eat 
them.  While  he  was  eating,  Horse  gained  time  to  get  ahead. 
As  soon  as  Leopard  had  finished  the  nuts,  he  started  on  in 
pursuit  again,  and  soon  began  to  overtake.  When  he  ap- 
proached, Horse  told  Ilambe  to  throw  out  the  gourd-seeds. 
She  did  so.  Leopard  delayed  to  eat  these  seeds  also.  This 
gave  Horse  time  to  again  get  ahead.  Thus  they  went  on. 

Leopard,  having  finished  the  gourd-seeds,  again  went 
leaping  in  pursuit;  and,  for  the  third  time,  came  near.  Horse 
told  Ilambe  to  throw  the  gourd  of  water  behind,  with  force 
so  that  it  might  crash  and  break  on  the  ground.  As  soon  as 
she  had  done  so,  the  water  was  turned  to  a stream  of  a deep 
wide  river,  between  them  and  Leopard.  Then  he  was  at 
a loss.  So,  he  shouted,  “Ah!  Ilambe!  Mi  asaiya!  If  I only 
had  a chance  to  catch  you! ” So,  he  had  to  turn  back. 

Then  Horse  said,  “We  do  not  know  what  he  may  do  yet; 
perhaps  he  may  go  around  and  across  ahead  of  us.  As  there 
is  a town  which  I know  near  here,  we  had  better  stay  there  a 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


75 


day  or  two  while  he  may  be  searching  for  us.”  He  added 
to  her,  “Mind!  this  town  where  we  are  going,  no  woman  is 
allowed  to  be  there,  only  men.  So,  I will  change  your  face 
and  dress  like  a man’s.  Be  very  careful  how  you  behave 
when  you  take  your  bath,  lest  you  die.”  Ilambe  promised; 
and  Horse  changed  her  appearance.  So,  a fine-looking  young 
man  was  seen  riding  into  the  street  of  the  village.  There 
were  exclamations  in  the  street,  “This  is  a stranger!  Hail! 
stranger;  hail!  Who  showed  you  the  way  to  come  here?” 
This  young  man  answered,  “Myself;  I was  out  riding;  I 
saw  an  open  path;  and  I came  in.”  He  entered  a house, 
and  was  welcomed;  and  they  told  him  their  times  of  eating, 
and  of  play,  etc.  But,  on  the  second  day,  as  this  young 
man  went  out  privately,  one  of  the  men  observed,  and  said 
to  the  other,  “He  acts  like  a woman!”  The  others  asked, 
“Really!  you  think  so?”  He  asserted,  “Yes!  I am  sure!” 
So,  that  day  Ilambe  was  to  meet  with  some  trouble;  for,  to 
prove  her,  the  men  had  said  to  her,  “Tomorrow  we  all  go 
bathing  in  the  river,  and  you  shall  go  with  us.”  She  went 
to  ask  Horse  what  she  should  do.  He  rebuked  her,  “I 
warned  you,  and  you  have  not  been  careful.  But,  do  not 
be  troubled;  I will  change  you  into  a man.  ” 

That  night,  Ilambe  went  to  Horse;  and  he  changed  her. 
He  also  told  her,  “I  warn  you  again.  Tomorrow  you  go  to 
bathe  with  the  others,  and  you  may  take  off  your  clothes; 
for,  you  are  now  a man.  But,,  it  is  only  for  a short  time, 
because  we  stay  here  only  a day  and  a night  more,  and  then 
we  must  go.  ” 

The  next  morning  all  the  town  went  to  play,  and  after 
that  to  bathe.  When  they  went  into  the  water,  the  other 
men  were  all  expecting  to  see  a woman  revealed;  but  they 
saw  that  their  visitor  was  a man.  They  admired  his  wonder- 
fully fine  physique.  On  emerging  from  the  water,  the  men 
said  to  the  one  who  had  informed  on  Ilambe,  “Did  you  not 
tell  us  that  this  was  a woman?  See,  how  great  a man  he  is! ’ 
As  soon  as  they  said  that,  the  young  man  Ilambe  was  vexed 
with  him,  and  began  to  berate  him,  saying,  “Eh!  you  said 
I was  a woman?”  And  she  chased  him  and  struck  him. 
Then  they  all  went  back  to  the  town. 

In  the  evening.  Horse  told  Ilambe,  “ I tell  you  what  to  do 
tomorrow.  In  the  morning,  you  take  your  gun,  and  shoot 


76 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


me  dead.  After  you  have  shot  me,  these  men  will  find  fault 
with  you,  saying  ‘Ah!  you  shoot  your  horse,  and  did  not 
care  for  it?’  But,  do  not  say  anything  in  reply.  Cut  me  in 
pieces,  and  burn  the  pieces  in  the  fire.  After  this,  carefully 
gather  all  the  black  ashes;  and,  very  early  in  the  following 
morning,  in  the  dark  before  any  one  is  up,  go  out  of  the 
village  gateway,  scatter  the  ashes,  and  you  will  see  what  wdll 
happen.  ” 

The  young  man  did  all  this.  On  scattering  the  ashes, 
he  instantly  found  himself  changed  again  to  a woman,  and 
sitting  on  Horse’s  back;  and  they  were  running  rapidly 
away. 

That  same  day,  in  the  afternoon,  they  came  to  the  town 
of  the  father  Ra-Mborakinda.  On  their  arrival  there,  they 
(but  especially  Horse)  told  their  whole  story.  Ilambe  was 
somewdiat  ashamed  of  herself;  for,  she  had  brought  these 
troubles  on  herself  by  insisting  on  having  a husband  with  a 
perfectly  fine  skin.  So,  her  father  said,  “Ilambe,  my  child, 
you  see  the  trouble  you  have  brought  on  yourself.  For  you, 
a woman,  to  make  such  a demand  was  too  much.  Had  I 
not  sent  Kabala  wdth  you,  what  would  have  become  of  you?” 
The  people  gave  Ilambe  a glad  wrelcome.  And  she  went  to 
her  house,  and  said  nothing  more  about  fine  skins. 


TALE  16 

Why  the  Plantain-Stalk  Bears  but  One  Bunch 
Persons 


Oyila  (Oil-Palm  Tree)  Mbindi  (Wild  Goat) 

Akanda  (Plantain-Stalk) 


NOTE 

According  to  native  law  of  hospitality,  duty  to  a guest 
requires  almost  any  sacrifice.  This  is  oriental.  (See  Genesis 
Chap.  19,  vs.  8.)  A plantain-stalk  bears  but  one  bunch. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


77 


Therefore,  to  gather  the  fruit,  the  stalk  with  apparent  ruth- 
lessness is  cut  down.  But,  there  are  always  from  two  to 
five  young  sprouts  at  the  base,  from  2 feet  to  5 feet  in  height, 
which,  in  succession,  take  the  place  of  the  parent  stem. 

Observe  the  Cannibalism.  All  African  tribes  were  former- 
ly Cannibals.  Many  interior  tribes  still  are.  This  story  is 
a marked  illustration  of  the  characteristic  impossibilities 
in  native  tales,  “Plantain”  being  at  one  and  the  same  time 
a plant  and  a human  being! 


Palm-tree  produced  Plantain  tree. 

Then  there  stood  up  an  animal  called  Wild  Goat,  and  it 
went  to  seek  marriage  with  Palm-tree’s  daughter  Plantain. 
It  was  so  arranged;  and  the  marriage  was  held. 

As  Goat  and  his  wife  were  about  departing  to  his  own  town, 
Palm-tree  gave  some  parting  advice  to  her  daughter  Plan- 
tain; “When  you  shall  be  about  to  become  a mother,  come 
back  and  stay  with  me.” 

Not  long  after  this,  Plantain  was  to  become  a mother;  and 
people  went  to  Palm-tree  to  inform  her  of  the  fact.  This 
daughter  Plantain  did  not  obey  her  mother’s  directions,  but 
remained  in  the  town  until  her  child  was  born.  This  was 
told  to  mother  Palm-tree,  who  was  dissatisfied,  and  said, 
“Eh!  I told  Akanda  to  have  her  child  born  with  me!” 

The  reason  that  Palm-tree  had  given  this  direction  to 
Plantain  was,  that,  as  her  own  custom,  in  bearing  her  palm- 
nuts,  was  to  have  several  bunches  in  sight  at  one  time,  and 
ripening  in  succession,  she  wished  her  daughter  to  have  the 
same  habit. 

After  Plantain  had  borne  her  child,  it  grew  well  and  became 
very  strong.  One  day,  strangers  came  to  the  town  on  a 
visit;  and,  when  the  villagers  looked  for  food  for  the  visitors, 
to  their  shame,  they  found  they  had  none.  Then  one  of  the 
women  of  the  village  said,  “Well!  let  us  cut  down  this 
Akanda,  and  cook  it  and  eat  it.  ” So,  a machete  was  seized, 
and  Plantain’s  stalk  was  slashed,  and  Palm-tree’s  child 
Plantain  was  taken  and  cooked  and  eaten.  At  this,  people 
went  and  told  Palm-tree,  saying,  “Your  child  is  cut  down, 


78 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


and  is  cooked  and  eaten.  ” The  mother  Palm-tree  helplessly 
replied,  “What  can  I do?” 

All  this  while,  the  husband  Goat  had  been  away  on  a jour- 
ney. When  he  returned,  and  came  to  his  town,  and  found 
that  his  wife,  Palm-tree’s  child,  was  not  there,  he  asked, 
“My  wife;  is  she  dead?”  The  people  answered  him,  “Yes!” 
“But,”  he  asked,  “for  what  reason  did  she  die?”  They 
answered,  “Because  the  people  of  the  town  had  no  food  for 
their  guests.”  Mbindi  complained  further,  saying,  “So! 
when  Akanda  was  cooked,  you  gave  your  guests  only  plan- 
tains; were  you  so  inhospitable  as  to  give  them  also  no  meat 
or  fish?” 

At  this  the  people  were  vexed,  and  they  said,  “Well  then! 
let  this  husband  be  killed  and  eaten  as  the  meat!”  So  they 
killed  and  ate  him. 

This  news,  people  also  carried  to  Palm-tree,  telling  her 
that  Plantain’s  husband  was  also  killed  and  eaten. 

Then  Palm-tree  came  to  the  town  to  speak  about  the  death 
of  Plantain.  The  people  justified  themselves,  saying,  “But, 
what  else  could  we  do?  It  was  necessary  to  provide  for  the 
guests.” 

Plam-tree  submitted,  “Truly,  had  Akanda  obeyed  me  and 
come  to  me  and  borne  her  child  in  my  presence,  she  would 
have  had  abundance,  and  would  not  have  died.” 


PART  SECOND 


Benga  Tribe 

FOREWORD 

The  tales  of  this  second  part  had  their  source  with  narra- 
tors of  Benga — speaking  tribes  of  Corisco  Island,  the  region 
of  the  Bonito  River,  and  Batanga.  Nos.  1,  2,  3 and  4 were 
written  in  Benga  by  the  pioneer  missionaries,  Rev.  Messrs. 
Mackey  and  Clemens,  from  the  dictation  in  Benga  by  natives 
of  Corisco,  more  than  40  years  ago;  and  were  printed  as 
reading-lessons  in  the  Primer  used  in  their  schools. 

I have  translated  them  into  English.  They  having  thus 
passed  twice  through  foreign  thought,  have  lost  most  of  their 
native  idioms.  Tale  4 was  independently  re-told  me  at 
Batanga  within  the  past  few  years,  by  a narrator  living 
there.  It  differs  from  the  version  printed  in  the  Primer,  and 
I have  combined  the  two. 

The  remaining  thirty  tales  were  given  me  at  Batanga; 
by  three  adult  narrators,  all  of  them  civilized  men.  They 
spoke  them  with  me  alone,  or  in  the  presence  of  one  or  two 
silent  attendants,  sentence  by  sentence,  in  their  Bapuku 
dialect  of  the  Benga  language.  I rapidly  made  notes  in 
an  English  translation  of  their  principal  words.  This  was 
always  at  night,  in  order  to  leave  the  narrator  at  that  ease 
which  he  would  naturally  feel  if  he  was  telling  the  story  to  an 
audience  in  the  street,  as  he  is  accustomed  to  do  in  the  eve- 
nings. For  that  purpose  also,  I shaded  my  lamp,  using  its 
light  only  for  my  pencil;  he  therefore  spoke  unrestrainedly. 
Next  morning,  with  my  memory  still  fresh  of  the  night’s 
story,  I filled  out  the  sentences.  This  set  of  the  tales  there- 
fore is  more  native,  in  the  preservation  of  its  idioms,  than  any 
other  part. 


79 


TALE  1 


Swine  Talking 


Persons 


Ingowa  (Hogs) 


NOTE 

Unlike  other  native  legends  based  on  “they  say,”  the 
native  narrator,  now  more  than  40  years  ago,  gave  the 
name  and  family  name  of  the  man  who  is  stated  to  have 
reported  that  he  heard  Swine  talking  with  human  speech. 


There  was  a certain  man  in  the  time  long  ago,  by  name 
Bokona,  whose  family  name  was  Bodikito.  He  went  to  the 
depths  of  the  forest  to  do  some  business.  When  he  was 
about  to  return  in  the  afternoon  to  go  to  his  village,  he  heard 
in  advance  of  him,  a noise  of  conversation.  He  thought 
that  perhaps  they  were  people  (of  whose  presence  he  was 
not  aware;  for,  there  were  no  villages  in  that  part  of  the 
forest).  But,  when  he  had  approached  the  spot,  he  did  not 
see  people;  but  only  a herd  of  Hogs  speaking  with  the  voices 
of  people.  He  was  thus  perfectly  sure  that  they  speak  the 
language  of  Mankind. 


81 


8 % 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


TALE  2 
Crocodile 
Persons 

Ngando  (Crocodile)  Two  Children,  and  Towns- 

people 

Two  children  were  bathing  in  a river;  and  a crocodile  came 
where  they  were.  It  seized  one,  and,  grasping  it  with  its 
teeth,  went  with  it  to  its  hole  in  the  river  bank.  It  did  not 
kill  him,  but  said  to  him,  “I  leave  you  here,  and  I go  straight 
back  to  bring  the  other  one  who  remained.”  After  the 
crocodile  had  left,  the  one  thus  put  into  the  hole,  turning 
his  eyes  about,  saw  it  full  of  living  fish  (kept  on  hand  by 
the  crocodile  as  its  food-supply).  He  sawT  also  that  there  was 
another  opening  in  the  cavity,  above,  just  over  his  head. 
Climbing  up  and  jumping  through  it,  he  rapidly  went  straight 
away  to  his  village.  He  related  all  this  incident  to  the  people. 
Then  they  gladly  fired  guns,  for  welcome  of  the  child. 

When  the  crocodile  reached  the  bathing-place  on  its 
return,  it  did  not  see  the  one  whom  it  had  left  there;  and  it 
was  angry.  While  it  was  thus  angry,  the  people  shot  at  it 
with  guns,  but  their  shots  could  not  even  wound  it;  and  it 
went  back  again  to  its  hole  to  seek  for  and  eat  the  child  whom 
it  had  seized. 

When  it  again  entered  into  the  hole  and  searched,  and  did 
not  find  him,  it  was  very  angry,  and  pursued  him,  going  up 
to  the  very  middle  of  the  village.  For  three  days  it  was 
there  barking  in  the  village,  and  trying  to  kill  some  one. 


TALE  3 

Origin  of  the  Elephant 
Persons 

Uhadwe,  Bokume  and  Njaku  Towns-People,  Sailors  and 
Sons  of  Njambi  the  Creator  Others 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


83 


NOTE 

I have  never  seen  the  place;  but,  intelligent  natives, 
(though  they  did  not  believe  in  the  legend  itself)  told  me 
there  was  the  likeness  to  a human  foot-print  in  a rock  on  the 
beach  of  the  north  shore  of  Corisco  Bay.  Doubtless  a fossil. 


Uhadwe,  Bokume,  and  Njaku  were  human  beings,  all  three 
born  of  one  mother.  (Afterwards  Bokume  was  called 
“Njape.  ”) 

As  time  went  on,  Uhadwe  called  his  brethren,  Bokume  and 
Njaku,  and  said,  “My  brothers!  Let  us  separate;  myself, 
I am  going  to  the  Great  Sea;  you,  Bokume  go  to  the  Forest; 
you,  Njaku,  also  go  to  the  Forest.,, 

Bokume  went  to  the  forest  and  grew  up  there,  and  became 
the  valuable  mahogany  tree  (Okume). 

Njaku  departed;  but  he  went  in  anger,  saying,  “I  will  not 
remain  in  the  forest,  I am  going  to  build  with  the  towns- 
people. ” He  came  striding  back  to  the  town.  As  he  emerg- 
ed there  from  the  forest,  his  feet  swelled  and  swelled,  and 
became  elephant  feet.  His  ear  extended  ’way  down.  His 
teeth  spreading,  this  one  grew  to  a tusk,  and  that  one  grew 
to  a tusk.  The  towns-people  began  to  hoot  at  him.  And 
he  turned  back  to  the  forest.  But,  as  he  went,  he  said  to 
them,  “In  my  going  now  to  the  Forest,  I and  whatever 
plants  you  shall  plant  in  the  forest  shall  journey  together,” 
(i.  e.y  that  their  plantations  should  be  destroyed  by  him). 
So  Njaku  went;  and  their  food  went. 

When  Uhadwe  had  gone  thence  and  emerged  at  the  Sea, 
from  the  place  where  he  emerged  there  grew  the  stem  of 
“bush-rope”  (the  Calamus  palm);  and  the  staff  he  held 
became  a mangrove  forest.  The  footprints  where  he  and 
his  dog  trod  are  there  on  the  beach  of  Corisco  Bay  until  this 
day.  He  created  a sand-bank  from  where  he  stood,  extend- 
ing through  the  ocean,  by  which  he  crossed  over  to  the  Land 
of  the  Great  Sea.  When  he  reached  that  Land,  he  prepared 
a ship.  He  put  into  it  every  production  by  which  white 


84 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


people  obtain  wealth,  and  he  said  to  the  crew,  “Go  ye  and 
take  for  me  my  brother.  ” 

The  ship  came  to  Africa  and  put  down  anchor;  but,  for 
four  days  the  crew  did  not  find  any  person  coming  from  shore 
to  set  foot  on  the  ship,  or  to  go  from  the  ship  to  set  foot 
ashore,  the  natives  being  destitute  of  canoes. 

Finally,  Uhadwe  came  and  appeared  to  the  towns-people 
in  a dream,  and  said,  “Go  ye  to  the  forest  and  cut  down 
Njape,  dig  out  a canoe,  and  go  alongside  the  ship.  ” 

Early  next  morning  they  went  to  the  forest,  and  came  to 
the  Okume  trees;  they  cut  one  down,  and  hacked  it  into 
shape.  They  launched  it  on  the  sea,  and  said  to  their  young 
men,  “Go!”  Four  young  men  went  into  the  canoe  to  go 
alongside  the  ship.  When  they  had  nearly  reached  it,  look- 
ing hither  and  thither  they  feared,  and  they  stopped  and 
ceased  paddling.  The  white  men  on  the  ship  made  repeated 
signs  to  them.  Then  the  young  men,  having  come  close, 
spoke  to  the  white  men  in  the  native  language.  A white 
man  answered  also  in  the  same  language.  That  white  man 
said,  “ I have  come  to  buy  the  tusks  of  the  beast  which  is  here 
in  the  forest  with  big  feet  and  tusks  and  great  ears,  that  is 
called  Njaku.  ” They  said,  “Yes!  a good  thing!”  When 
they  were  about  leaving,  the  white  man  advancing  to  them, 
deposited  with  them  four  bunches  of  tobacco,  four  bales  of 
prints,  four  caps,  and  other  things. 

When  they  reached  the  shore,  they  told  the  others,  “The 
white  men  want  Njaku’s  tusks;  and  also  they  have  things 
by  which  to  kill  his  tribe.” 

The  next  morning,  they  went  to  the  white  men;  they  were 
trusted  with  guns  and  bullets  and  powder;  they  went  to  the 
forest,  and  fought  with  the  elephants.  In  two  days  the  ship 
was  loaded,  and  it  departed. 

This  continues  to  happen  so  until  this  day,  in  the  Ivory- 
Trade. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


85 


TALE  4 


Leopard’s  Marriage  Journey 


Persons 


Njambi  (Chief  of  a Town) 
Nja  (Leopard) 

Etoli  (House-Rat) 

Mbindi  (Wild  Goat) 


Vyadu  (Antelope) 

Ehibo  (Red  Antelope) 
Iheli  (Gazelle) 
Ekwedikwedi  (Fire-Fly) 


Leopard  wanted  to  marry,  and  he  sought  a betrothal  at 
Njambi’s  town.  Secretly,  Njambi  had  arranged  with  Leo- 
pard that  he  should  bring  him  no  goods  in  payment  of  the 
“Dowry,”  but  only  the  bodies  of  animals. 

Leopard  agreed,  and  said  to  Njambi’s  daughter,  “I  will 
dowry  you  only  with  animals.”  He  returned  to  his  home 
for  a few  days;  and  then  he  called  Rat  to  escort  him  to  the 
town  of  his  prospective  father-in-law.  Rat  consented. 
And  they  started  on  their  journey. 

On  their  way,  they  came  to  a wide  river;  and  Leopard  said 
to  Rat,  “Before  one  crosses  this  river,  he  must  throw  his 
knife  into  it.”  Rat  threw"  his  knife;  and  so  (apparently)  did 
Leopard.  They  crossed;  went  on  their  way,  and  came  to  a 
Kuda  tree;  and  they  stopped,  and  began  to  gather  the  nuts. 
Leopard  drew  his  knife  from  its  sheath,  and  splitting  the 
nut-shells  and  eating  the  kernels,  said  derisively  to  Rat, 
“One  who  has  no  knife  will  not  be  able  to  eat  kuda.”  Rat, 
in  his  helplessness,  made  no  protest.  And  they  went  on. 
They  came  to  a certain  “Medicine”  tree;  and  Leopard  said, 
“Etoli,  if  I shall  fall  sick  on  the  way,  and  I tell  you  to  go 
back  and  get  the  bark  of  a certain  tree  for  medicine,  see ! this 
is  the  tree.  ” Finally,  they  came  to  the  town  of  the  woman 
whom  Leopard  was  to  marry.  There,  food  was  cooked  for 
them.  Just  before  they  were  to  sit  down  to  eat,  Leopard 
exclaimed,  “Etoli!  I am  sick!  Go,  and  get  that  medicine 
for  me!”  While  Rat  was  gone,  Leopard  ate  up  almost  all 
the  food,  leaving  only  a few  scraps  for  Rat. 

At  night,  inside  of  the  entrance  of  the  house  where  the  two 
strangers  were  to  sleep,  was  a pit  already  dug.  Leopard 


86 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


knew  of  it,  and  jumped  over  it;  but  Rat  fell  into  it.  Leopard 
shouted  to  the  town’s-people,  “This  is  the  animal  I brought 
to  pay  on  my  Dowry ! Come,  and  take  him!”  The  people 
came,  caught  Rat,  and  ate  him. 

The  next  morning.  Leopard’s  father-in-law  had  food  pre- 
pared for  him;  he  ate;  and  returned  to  his  town.  There, 
the  relatives  of  Rat  asked  him,  “Where  is  the  little  one  you 
took  to  escort  you?*  ’ Leopard  replied,  “He  refused  to 
return,  staying  there  with  the  woman.” 

Again,  Leopard  prepared  gifts  of  dried  fish  and  tobacco  for 
his  mother-in-law,  and  arranged  for  another  journey.  He 
called  to  his  relative,  “ Brother ” Wild-Goat,  “Come,  escort 
me  to  the  town  of  my  marriage.  ” Wild  Goat  consented;  and 
they  started.  They  came  to  the  River;  and,  as  in  the  case  of 
Rat,  Leopard  said  to  Goat,  “You  will  first  throw  away  your 
knife,  before  you  can  cross  this  river.”  Goat  actually  did 
so;  Leopard  pretending  to  do  so.  Continuing  their  journey, 
they  came  to  that  Kuda  tree.  Leopard  was  careful  to  stand 
on  a side  of  the  tree  opposite  to  Goat,  as  they  gathered  the 
nuts.  But,  he  said  provokingly,  “One  can  not  eat  kuda 
without  a knife.”  Wild  Goat  innocently  replied,  “But, 
you,  Nja,  you  are  eating  nuts ! Did  you  bring  two  knives?” 
They  journeyed  on,  and  came  to  the  Medicine  tree.  And 
Leopard  gave  to  Goat  the  same  directions  about  it  as  he  had 
given  to  Rat. 

When  they  reached  the  marriage  town,  food  was  set  before 
them.  But  Leopard  immediately  began  to  groan  and 
scream,  “I’m  dead!  I’m  dead!  I’m  dead  with  pain!” 
Wild  Goat  sympathisingly  inquired,  “What  shall  I do  to 
help  you?”  Leopard  replied,  as  in  the  case  of  Rat,  “Go 
back  to  that  tree,  and  get  its  bark  as  a medicine  for  me.” 
Wild  Goat  went;  and  while  he  was  away.  Leopard  ate  the 
food,  leaving  very  little  of  it.  On  his  return,  Wild  Goat 
protested  at  so  little  being  given  him.  Leopard  explained, 
“In  my  great  suffering  from  tooth-ache,  I ate  nothing. 
Perhaps  it  was  the  town’s-people  who  ate  up  the  food,  leav- 
ing you  only  these  pieces.  ” 

After  they  had  eaten,  they  were  called  to  the  reception- 
house,  and  spent  the  evening  in  conversation  with  the  people 
of  the  town.  Then,  they  were  shown  to  the  house  in  which 
they  were  to  sleep.  It  was  the  one  with  the  pit-fall  inside 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


87 


the  door- way.  Leopard,  of  course,  jumped  over  it;  but 
Wild  Goat  fell  into  it.  And,  as  in  the  case  of  Rat,  Leopard 
called  out,  “People  of  the  town!  This  is  your  dowry-goods! 
I have  brought  it  to  you!”  The  next  morning,  Leopard 
took  his  journey,  and  came  back  home.  When  the  people 
of  his  town  asked  him,  as  in  the  case  of  Rat,  “Where  is  the 
friend  you  took  with  you?”  he  made  the  same  reply,  “Don’t 
ask  me!  He  is  entangled  off  there  with  women.” 

On  a third  journey,  Leopard  called  Antelope  to  accompany 
him.  Antelope  agreed.  They  came  to  the  River;  and  as  before 
Leopard  told  how  that  river  could  not  be  crossed  by  travelers 
unless  their  knives  were  thrown  away.  This,  Antelope  did. 

Then,  they  came  to  the  Kuda  tree.  There,  Antelope  heard 
Leopard  splitting  the  nuts,  and  asked  him.  “Did  you  not 
throw  away  your  knife?  Do  you  travel  with  two?”  Leo- 
pard answered,  “Yes!  I always  travel  with  two.”  Then, 
they  came  to  the  Medicine  tree.  And  Leopard  explained 
about  its  bark  being  the  cure  for  his  frequent  tooth-aches, 
when  eating  at  his  father-in-law’s  town. 

They  came  to  the  town.  And  when  food  was  brought  to 
them,  Leopard  cried  out,  “O!  my  tooth!  my  tooth!”  Ante- 
lope asked,  “Where  is  your  medicine  that  you  said  you  use?” 
Leopard  answered,  “At  the  tree  which  I showed  you  on  the 
way.  Go,  and  get  it.  ” While  Antelope  was  gone,  Leopard 
ate  up  almost  all  the  food.  On  returning,  Antelope  exclaimed 
“What!  only  this  little  food  for  me?”  Leopard  explained, 
“With  my  great  tooth-ache,  I ate  none.  Nothing  happened, 
except  that  the  town’s-people  came,  and  were  eating  up  the 
food;  and  I,  in  my  kindness  for  you,  begged  them  to  leave  at 
least  a little  for  you.”  Antelope  handed  him  the  medicine, 
and  Leopard  said,  “Put  it  down  there”;  and  he  threw  it 
away,  while  Antelope’s  back  was  turned. 

After  they  had  eaten,  they  went  to  their  room  for  the 
night.  Leopard,  as  usual,  jumped  over  the  pit;  but  Antelope 
fell  in.  And  Leopard  gave  his  shout  to  the  people  to  come 
and  take  the  Dowry-goods  he  had  brought.  The  next 
morning,  after  breakfast,  Leopard  again  started  on  his  home 
journey.  There,  again  he  was  anxiously  asked,  “ But,  those 
whom  you  take  with  you  don’t  come  back!  Why?”  He 
made  the  same  reply,  “They  know  why!  Off  there  are 
damsels  and  dancing;  and  they  were  unable  to  return.” 


88 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


For  his  next  journey,  Leopard  asked  Red  Antelope,  who 
heartily  replied,  “Yes,  come  on!  There  is  nothing  to  pre- 
vent my  going  on  a journey!”  They  journeyed,  and  they 
came  to  the  River.  There,  Leopard  made  his  statement 
about  the  necessity  of  throwing  their  knives  into  the  river. 
Red  Antelope  wondered  a little,  but  he  consented  saying, 
“Yes,  but  what  is  that  to  me?”  Said  Leopard,  “Well, 
then,  shut  your  eyes,  and  I will  be  the  first  to  throw,  lest  you 
say  I am  deceiving  you.”  Said  Red  Antelope,  “Yes.” 
And  he  shut  his  eyes  tightly.  Then  Leopard,  having  a stone 
in  his  hand,  flung  it  into  the  water,  saying,  “I’ve  thrown 
mine;  throw  also  yours!”  Red  Antelope  demanded,  “But, 
you  must  shut  your  eyes  also.”  Leopard  half-closed  his 
eyes,  and  Red  Antelope,  knife  in  hand,  flung  it  into  the 
water.  Then,  wading  across,  they  went  on  and  on  to  the 
base  of  the  Kuda  tree.  Said  Leopard,  “Mr.  Ehibo,  this 
Kuda  is  eaten  of  here  only  by  each  person  on  his  own  side  of 
the  trunk.”  Red  Antelope  assented;  and  they  turned,  this 
one  to  one  side,  and  that  one  to  the  other  side.  There,  as 
Red  Antelope  was  vainly  trying  to  crack  the  nuts  with  his 
teeth,  Leopard  was  deriding  him  while  himself  was  comfortably 
using  his  knife. 

Then,  Leopard  said,  “Let  us  go  on;  for,  the  day  is  declin- 
ing.” Red  Antelope  agreed.  As  they  went,  they  came 
to  an  Ebwehavu  tree.  And  Leopard  said,  “Let  us  climb  for 
Bebwehavu  fruits.  But,  when  we  climb  this  particular  tree, 
it  is  the  practice  here,  to  climb,  one  by  one.  While  the  one 
is  climbing,  the  other  has  his  eyes  shut;  and,  the  climbing  is 
done,  not  by  the  trunk,  but  by  this  adjoining  Bongo  tree 
which  you  see  here.  But,  first,  close  your  eyes,  and  I will 
go  up.”  (The  Bongo’s  trunk  is  covered  with  hard  sharp 
thorns.)  Red  Antelope  stood,  with  his  eyes  tightly  closed. 
Leopard  grasped  a vine;  and,  with  one  swing,  he  at  once  was 
up  the  tree.  Red  Antelope  began  climbing  that  Bongo, 
creeping  slowly  to  the  top,  his  whole  body  spoiled,  and 
nothing  on  him  but  blood  and  blood. 

Said  Leopard,  “This  Ebwehavu  is  accustomed  to  be 
plucked  only  the  green  unripe,  but  the  dark  ripe  ones  are 
to  be  left.”  That  seemed  strange  to  Red  Antelope,  never- 
theless he  said,  “Yes.”  But  Leopard  was  plucking  the  ripe 
and  leaving  the  green.  When  they  had  finished  plucking, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


89 


Leopard  said,  “ Ehibo ! shut  eyes ! that  I may  descend ! ” Red 
Antelope  shut  his  eyes.  Leopard  grasped  the  vine;  and, 
with  one  spring,  was  on  the  ground.  Then,  he  said,  “Now, 
Ehibo,  descend.”  Red  Antelope  began  descending  by  the 
Bongo,  down,  down,  landing  finally  on  the  ground. 

Leopard  waited  for  him;  and  then  said,  “Having  no  fire, 
how  shall  we  cook  those  green  bebwehavu?”  Just  then,  he 
saw  a Fire-fly  passing;  and  he  said.  “Mr.  Ehibo!  Pursue! 
That’s  fire  passing  there!”  Red  Antelope  bent  in  rapid  pur- 
suit. Leopard  turned  to  the  base  of  the  tree,  gathered  dried 
fire-wood,  struck  his  flint,  lighted  a fire,  cooked  his  fruits, 
ate  them,  finished,  and  put  out  his  fire.  Red  Antelope, 
back  again,  said,  “I  did  not  reach  it,  I’m  tired.”  Leopard 
said,  “Well,  let  it  go.  I chewed  mine  uncooked.  But,  let 
us  journey;  and,  as  you  go,  you  chew  yours.”  They  went 
on,  and  came  to  the  town  of  the  marriage.  Food  was  cooked 
and  set  for  them  in  their  room.  Said  Leopard,  “Ehibo,  sit 
you  on  the  floor,  while  I eat  at  the  table.  And,  while  I eat 
the  flesh,  you  eat  the  bones.”  Red  Antelope  had  become  so 
utterly  wearied  and  humiliated  that  he  did  not  resent  this 
indignity.  They  ate.  And  then  Leopard  said,  “Ehibo, 
sweep  up  the  scraps,  and  go  and  throw  them  into  the  back 
yard.”  (Immediately  on  his  arrival  at  the  town.  Leopard 
had  gone  alone  to  his  father-in-law,  and  said,  “ I have  brought 
you  an  animal.  But,  let  another  pit,  this  time,  be  dug  in 
the  back  yard  of  the  room  where  we  shall  be.  And,  do  you 
put  spears  and  daggers  and  all  kinds  of  sharp  sticks  there. 
When  I shall  send  him  to  throw  away  the  sweepings,  and  he 
shall  fall  in,  kill  ye  him.”) 

Red  Antelope  swept,  and  scraped  up  the  sweepings,  and 
threw  them  into  a basket.  He  turned  with  them  to  the 
back  yard,  to  fling  them  away.  As  he  was  about  to  do  so, 
he  slipped  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  pit.  Impaled  on  the 
spears,  he  was  unable  to  jump  out.  When  the  town’s-people 
arrived,  they  thrust  him  through  with  sharp  poles;  and  he 
lay  dead. 

When  Leopard  returned  home,  Red  Antelope’s  people 
asked,  “ Where  is  Ehibo?  ” Leopard  made  his  former  answer, 
“Ehibo  was  hindered  by  the  hospitality  of  that  marriage 
town,  wdth  its  food  and  its  women;  and,  he  said,  ‘I  won’t  go 
back!’” 


90 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Thus,  with  each  journey,  Leopard  called  for  another 
animal.  They  went,  over  the  same  route;  and  the  same 
things  happened  each  time.  So,  matters  went  on  for  a long 
while.  But,  Gazelle,  a very  smart  beast,  began  to  suspect, 
observing  that  none  of  Leopard’s  travel-companions  ever 
came  back.  In  his  heart,  he  thought  to  himself,  “Leopard 
deceives  people!”  He  determined  to  find  out,  by  offering 
to  go,  and  watch  for  himself.  At  last,  he  said,  “Uncle  Nja, 
let  me  go  to  escort  you  to  the  town  of  your  marriage.  When 
next  you  go  on  your  journey,  call  me  to  go  with  you.  ” Said 
Leopard,  “I  don’t  want  you.”  (He  suspected  Gazelle’s 
smartness.)  Gazelle  insisted,  “Uncle,  as  to  these  others 
whom  you  have  invited  to  go  with  you,  and  not  the  rather 
me,  your  relative?” 

So,  Leopard  agreed,  “Yes,  let  us  go.”  By  the  next  morn- 
ing they  started  on  their  journey,  going  on  and  on,  clear  to 
the  big  River.  There,  as  usual,  Leopard  told  about  knives 
to  be  thrown  into  the  river;  and  he  said,  “Nephew  Iheli,  you 
first  throw  your  knife.”  Said  Gazelle,  “First,  you  throw 
yours,  then  I will  throw  mine  also.”  Said  Leopard,  “Well! 
shut  your  eyes!”  Gazelle  half-closed  his  hands  on  his  eyes, 
and  was  peeping.  He  saw  Leopard  seize  a chunk  of  wood 
and  fling  it  in  the  wrater.  Then  he  said,  “Shut  eyes!  Let 
me  also  throw  mine ! ” Leopard’s  eyes  shut  tight.  Gazelle, 
seizing  a stick,  flung  it  into  the  water.  Then,  they  crossed 
the  river,  and  went  on  and  on,  until  they  came  to  the  base  of 
the  Kuda  tree.  Leopard  made  his  usual  statement  about 
parties  eating  the  nuts  on  opposite  sides  of  the  tree.  Gazelle, 
with  apparent  obedience,  said,  ‘“Yes.”  Leopard,  with  knife 
drawn,  began  to  hack  and  split  the  nuts,  throwing  the  kernels 
into  his  mouth,  and  making  his  usual  derisive  remark,  “By 
the  truth!  a person  without  a knife  can  not  eat  the  kernels 
of  kuda.  ” Gazelle  also,  hacking  his,  and  throwing  them  into 
his  mouth,  said,  “Just  exactly  so!  a person  without  a knife 
can  not  eat  the  kernel  of  kuda-nut!”  Leopard  exclaimed, 
“What  are  you  doing?  Have  you  two  knives?”  Gazelle 
replied,  “But,  what  are  you  doing?  Had  you  two  knives?” 
Leopard  answered,  “Yes,  for,  I am  the  senior.”  Gazelle 
responded,  “And  I also  carry  two  knives;  for,  I also  am  an 
adult.”  Leopard  only  said,  “Iheli!  Come  on!”  They 
went  on,  until  they  came  to  the  Ebwehavu  tree.  There, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


91 


Leopard  made  his  usual  explanation  of  climbing  only  by 
means  of  the  Bongo  tree.  Gazelle  agreed,  and  said,  “Yes; 
climb  you  first.  ” Leopard  said,  “ Shut  your  eyes.  ” Gazelle 
stood,  with  eyes  apparently  tightly  closed.  With  one  swing 
on  a vine,  Leopard  is  up  the  tree.  Said  Gazelle,  “You  also, 
shut  your  eyes.  Let  me  go  up.”  Leopard  pretended  to 
shut  his  eyes.  And  Gazelle,  with  one  swing,  was  also  up  the 
tree.  Leopard  made  his  usual  statement  about  plucking 
only  the  green  fruit.  To  which,  Gazelle  seemed  to  assent. 

And  they  descended  the  tree,  without  Leopard  attempting 
to  deceive  Gazelle  about  the  Bongo  tree. 

But,  Leopard  seeing  the  sun  going  down,  said,  “Iheli! 
Pursue!  that’s  fire  that’s  going  there!”  But,  Gazelle  showed 
he  was  not  deceived,  by  simply  saying,  “That’s  not  fire!” 
So,  Leopard  gathered  fire- wood;  and  they  cooked  and  ate 
their  bebwehavu. 

Then,  they  resumed  their  journey,  and  came  to  the  Medi- 
cine tree.  There  Leopard  told  his  usual  story  about  the 
bark  of  that  tree  being  his  great  cure-all.  Gazelle  quietly 
said,  “Yes.”  But,  when  they  left  the  tree,  and  had  gone  a 
short  distance  farther,  he  exclaimed,  “O!  I forgot  my 
staff!  I must  go  back  and  get  it!”  He  went  back  to  the 
tree,  stripped  bark  from  it,  put  it  into  his  traveling-bag,  and 
overtook  Leopard.  And  they  came  on  together  to  the  town. 
After  they  had  entered  their  house,  Gazelle  remarked  to 
Leopard,  “ Let  me  go  out  and  see  the  other  fellows,  who  came 
with  you  on  your  previous  journeys,  and  who,  you  said,  had 
stayed  here  with  the  women.”  He  went  out;  and  returned, 
saying,  “ I saw  the  women,  but  none  of  those  fellows.  ” Food 
was  cooked  for  them,  and  they  sat  down  to  eat.  But,  sud- 
denly, Leopard  broke  out  in  groans,  “Iheli!  I feel  a pain 
in  my  stomach;  go,  get  bark  of  that  tree  I showed  you.  The 
medicine!  Get  the  medicine!”  Gazelle  answered  “Yes, 
but  just  wait  until  I finish  my  plate;”  and  he  continued 
eating  rapidly.  Leopard  was  distressed  to  see  the  food  dis- 
appearing; but,  as  he  had  pretended  sickness,  he  did  not 
dare  begin  to  eat.  When,  finally  there  was  but  little  food 
left,  Gazelle  introduced  his  hand  into  his  bag,  and,  handing 
out  the  pieces  of  bark,  said,  “Here’s  your  medicine!  That’s 
it!”  Leopard  said,  “Yes,  just  leave  it  there.  I do  not  need 
the  medicine  now.  The  pain  has  ceased.  Let  us  first  eat. 


92 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


We  will  eat  together.”  After  finishing  their  eating,  Gazelle 
swept  up  the  scraps,  and  placed  them  in  a basket.  Said 
Leopard,  “Come,  I will  go  with  you  to  show  you  the  place 
where  sweepings  are  to  be  thrown.”  Gazelle  was  about  to 
fling  the  basket,  as  Leopard  came  to  push  him  into  the  pit. 
But,  Gazelle  lightly  leaped  across  to  the  other  side  of  it,  and 
cried  out,  “ Uncle ! what  do  you  want  to  do  to  me?  ” Leopard 
said,  “That’s  nothing!” 

It  being  night,  they  went  to  their  sleeping-room,  Leopard 
accompanied  by  his  wife.  He  and  she  carefully  jumped 
over  the  other  pit  that  was  inside  of  the  door-way  of  that 
house.  Gazelle  also  jumped,  with  careful  observation,  the 
while  that  people  stood  outside  expecting  him  to  fall  into  it. 
They  retired  for  the  night,  Leopard  and  his  wife  on  the  bed; 
Gazelle  on  a mat  on  the  floor.  Said  Gazelle,  “Uncle,  if  you 
hear  me  stertorously  snoring,  then  I am  awake;  but,  if  silently, 
then  I am  asleep.  ” In  a little  while,  Gazelle  feigned  gentle 
snoring.  Leopard  thinking  Gazelle  wTas  alseep,  took  an  iron 
rod,  and  thrust  it  into  the  fire.  Gazelle  saw  what  he  was 
doing.  When  it  was  red-hot,  he  removed  it,  and,  stepping 
softly,  wTas  about  to  stab  Gazelle  with  it;  wdio,  quickly  mov- 
ing aside,  exclaimed,  “Eh!  what  are  you  doing?”  Leopard 
coolly  replied,  “Nothing;  I was  only  brushing  away  an 
insect  that  wras  biting  you.”  Gazelle  thought  wdthin  him- 
self, “Nja  will  surely  kill  me  to-night.”  So,  he  took  chalk, 
and  secretly  marked  circles  around  his  eyes,  making  himself 
look  as  if  his  eyes  w^ere  open  and  he  awake,  even  if  he  should 
actually  be  asleep.  After  a while.  Leopard  slept,  sound 
asleep  wdth  his  wdfe.  Then  Gazelle  passed  over  to  Leopard’s 
bed,  and  lifting  the  woman  (unconscious  in  her  sleep)  to  his 
mat  on  the  floor,  laid  down  in  her  place,  beside  Leopard  in 
the  bed.  During  the  night,  Leopard  awoke,  and,  not  notic- 
ing, in  the  darkness,  the  change  at  his  side,  went  wdth  the 
rod,  to  the  mat  wdiere  he  supposed  Gazelle  wras  sleeping,  and 
stabbed  the  woman  to  death. 

Then  Gazelle  (wdio  had  remained  awake)  cried  out,  “Eh! 
you  kill  another  person?  You  are  killing  your  wdfe!”  Leo- 
pard exclaimed,  “Umph!  Is  that  you?  I said  to  myself  that 
this  was  you!”  Gazelle  said,  “Yes!  what  did  you  go  to  my 
bed  for?  So,  then ! I am  the  one  you  wanted  to  kill ! ” Leo- 
pard confessed,  “It  is  true  that  I came  here  to  kill  you, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


93 


thinking  this  was  you.  But,  as  the  matter  is  thus,  say  no 
more  about  it.  Let  us  cut  up  and  eat  this  woman.  Come, 
cut  up!”  But,  Gazelle  said,  “I?  When  the  town’s-people 
hear  the  chopping,  then  won’t  they  say,  ‘What  animal  has 
Iheli  killed  in  his  brother-in-law’s  town,  that  he  is  cutting  it 
up  at  night?’  Yourself,  cut  her  to  pieces.” 

So,  Leopard  said,  “Well,  leave  the  work  on  the  body  of 
the  woman  to  me;  but,  do  you  attend  to  the  cooking.”  Said 
Gazelle,  “I?  When  the  town’s  people  shall  hear  the  kettle 
boiling,  then  will  they  say,  ‘Whom  has  Iheli  killed  in  the 
town  of  his  brother-in-law,  that  he  cooks  at  night’?” 

Leopard  boiled  the  kettle.  It  was  cooked;  and  he  said  to 
Gazelle,  “Go,  cut  down  a bunch  of  plantains,  out  there  in 
the  back-yard.”  (This  he  said,  hoping  that  Gazelle  would 
fall  into  that  pit,  either  in  going  out  or  coming  in.)  But, 
Gazelle  said,  “I?  When  the  town’s  people  hear  the  strokes  of 
the  machete,  and  the  crash  of  the  fall  of  the  bunch,  then,  will 
they  not  suspect  me,  and  say,  ‘What  meat  has  Iheli  killed, 
that  he  is  cutting  down  a plantain  at  night?’  Cut  it  your- 
self.” Leopard  went  and  cut  down  a bunch  of  plantains, 
and  said  to  Gazelle,  “Now,  come  and  peel  the  plantains,  and 
cook  them.”  Gazelle  refused,  “No;  do  you  peel  and  cook. 
I’m  in  bed.  I’ll  eat  only  greens.”  Then  Leopard  said 
(making  a last  effort  to  get  Gazelle  into  the  pit),  “Well,  go 
to  the  back-yard,  and  pluck  pepper  for  the  soup.”  Gazelle 
again  refused,  “No:  when  the  town’s-people  hear  the  pluck- 
ing of  the  pods,  will  they  not  say,  ‘What  animal  has  Iheli 
killed  that  he  is  gathering  pepper  for  the  soup?’  ” 

Finally,  Leopard,  having  done  all  the  work,  and  finished 
cooking,  and  set  the  table,  said,  “Come,  Iheli,  I have  finished 
all.  Come,  and  eat.”  Gazelle  came,  but  said,  “First, 
put  out  all  the  lights.  ” Leopard  did  so.  And  Gazelle 
added,  “We  will  understand  that  whichever,  at  the  close 
of  the  meal,  has  the  largest  pile  of  bones  by  his  plate,  shall  be 
known  as  the  one  who  killed  the  woman.  ” Leopard  agreed. 
The  light  having  been  extinguished,  they  ate  in  darkness. 
But,  while  they  were  eating,  Gazelle  chose  only  the  bony 
pieces  that  had  little  meat;  and,  having  picked  them,  he 
quietly  laid  the  bones  by  Leopard’s  plate.  When  they  had 
finished  eating,  the  torches  were  re-lighted,  and  Gazelle 
cried  out  at  Leopard’s  big  pile  of  bones.  They  were  counted. 


94 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


And  Gazelle  said,  “Did  you  not  say  that  whoever  had  the 
most  bones  would  prove  himself  the  murderer?  So!  indeed! 
you  are  the  one  who  killed  another  person’s  child!” 

Leopard  evaded,  and  said,  “But,  Iheli,  take  a broom  and 
sweep  up  the  scraps  from  the  floor,  and  throw  them  into  the 
yard.”  (Making  thus  a final  effort  to  get  Gazelle  into  that 
pit.)  But,  Gazelle,  refused,  “No;  yourself  do  it.  When 
the  town’s-people  hear  the  bones  falling  as  they  are  thrown 
in  the  yard,  will  they  not  suspect  me,  and  say,  ‘ What  animal 
has  Iheli  killed  at  night,  that  he  is  clearing  away  the  scraps?’  ” 
Leopard  swept  up  the  floor  and  table,  and  threw  the  pieces 
into  the  backyard.  As  they  were  finishing,  day  began  to 
dawn.  Gazelle  said,  “Nja,  the  day  is  breaking;  let  us  seek 
hiding-places;  for,  when  the  people  come  in,  in  the  morning, 
and  find  that  their  daughter  is  dead,  lest  they  kill  us.  ” So, 
they  began  to  look  around  for  hiding-places.  Gazelle  said, 
“I  shall  hide  in  this  big  box  on  the  floor.”  But,  Leopard 
objected,  “No;  that  traveling-box  befits  me;  and,  as  the  elder, 
I shall  take  it.”  Gazelle  said,  then,  “Well,  I’ll  hide  under 
the  bed.”  But,  Leopard  again  objected  (hoping  to  leave 
Gazelle  without  a place).  “No;  that  also  is  my  place;  it 
suits  me.”  Gazelle  protested,  “You  are  claiming  this  and 
that  place!  Where  shall  I go?  Well!  I see!  I’ll  hide 
over  the  door.”  “Yes”  said  Leopard,  “that’s  the  hiding- 
place  for  a young  person  like  you.”  (This  he  said,  still 
thinking  of  the  pit  near  the  door.)  Gazelle  agreed,  saying, 
“I  am  here,  by  the  door.  You  get  into  that  box,  and  I’ll 
tie  it  with  a string,  as  if  no  one  was  in  it.  ” Leopard  objected, 
“But,  the  string  will  hinder  my  breaking  out.”  “No,” 
replied  Gazelle,  “it  shall  be  a weak  twine.  You  can  easily 
burst  it,  when  you  fling  up  the  lid,  and  jump  out,  and  run 
away.  ” 

Leopard  got  into  the  box,  and  Gazelle  began  to  tie  it  with  a 
heavy  chain.  Leopard  hearing  the  clanking,  exclaimed, 
“With  a chain,  Iheli?”  Gazelle  had  the  chain  fast;  and  he 
coolly  replied,  “It’s  only  a little  one.”  Then  he  piled 
heavy  stones  on  the  box.  As  day  broke,  he  took  his  stand 
among  a bundle  of  dried  plantain-leaves  that  was  over  the 
door-way.  The  towns-people  sent  a child  to  open  the  door 
of  the  strangers’  house,  to  call  them  to  eat.  As  the  child  was 
about  to  enter,  Gazelle  struck  him  a blow  on  the  head;  and  the 


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95 


child  went  away  wailing  with  pain.  The  child’s  father  said 
to  his  family  that  he  would  go  to  see  what  was  the  matter. 
As  he  pushed  wide  open  the  door  of  the  strangers’  house, 
Gazelle  slid  down,  sprang  out,  and  ran  rapidly  away,  shout- 
ing, “Nja  is  there!  Nja  is  in  that  box!  He  it  is  who  has 
killed  your  woman!”  And  the  towns-people  shouted  after 
him,  “Is  that  so?  Well,  you’re  off,  Iheli!  Go!” 

Leopard,  when  he  heard  that,  made  desperate  efforts  to 
get  out  of  the  box.  The  town’s-men  entered  the  house  and 
found  the  box  with  Leopard  tied  in  it.  They  fired  their 
guns  at  him,  and  killed  him.  As  they  did  so,  they  reproached 
him,  “Why  did  you  kill  our  daughter,  whom  you  came  to 
marry?”  Then  they  gathered  together  a great  pile  of  fire- 
wood in  the  street,  thrust  on  to  it  the  dead  body  of  Leopard, 
and  burned  him  there.  Gazelle  went  back  to  the  town  of 
Beasts,  and  they  asked  him,  “Where  is  he  with  whom  you 
went  on  your  journey?”  Gazelle  told  them,  “He  is  dead. 
He  it  was  who  killed  the  other  Beasts  who  went  with  him. 
And  he  is  now  killed  by  the  relatives  of  the  woman  whom  he 
was  to  marry,  but  whom  also  he  had  murdered.  ” 

For  this  reason,  that  Gazelle  informed  on  Leopard  in  the 
box,  the  relatives  of  Leopard  since  then  have  no  friendship 
with  Gazelle,  and  always  pursue  and  try  to  kill  him.  The 
entire  Leopard  tribe  have  kept  up  that  feud  with  the  Gazelle 
tribe,  saying,  “You  caused  our  father’s  death.”  And  they 
carry  on  their  revenge. 


TALE  5 

Tortoise  in  a Race 
Persons 

Kudu  (Tortoise)  Mbalanga  (Antelope) 

NOTE 

Discussions  about  seniority  are  common  causes  of  quarrel 
in  Africa.  The  reason  assigned  why  tortoises  are  so  spread 
everywhere  is  that  the  antelope  tribe,  in  public-meeting, 


96 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


recognized  their  superiority.  At  Batanga,  Gaboon,  Ogowe, 
and  everywhere  on  the  equatorial  west  coast,  there  are 
tortoises  even  in  places  where  there  are  no  other  animals. 
On  account  of  this,  the  tortoise  is  given  many  names;  and 
has  many  nicknames  in  the  native  tribes,  e.  g.,  “Manyima,” 
and  “Evosolo.” 


Tortoise  had  formerly  lived  in  the  same  town  with  several 
other  animals.  But,  after  awhile,  they  had  decided  to  sepa- 
rate, and  each  built  his  own  village. 

One  day,  Tortoise  decided  to  roam.  So  he  started,  and 
went  on  an  excursion;  leaving  his  wife  and  two  children  in 
the  village.  On  his  way,  he  came  to  the  village  of  Antelope. 
The  latter  welcomed  him.  killed  a fowl,  and  prepared  food 
for  him;  and  they  sat  at  the  table,  eating. 

When  they  had  finished  eating,  Antelope  asked,  “Kudu! 
My  friend,  what  is  your  journey  for?” 

Tortoise  answered,  “I  have  come  to  inquire  of  you,  as  to 
you  and  me,  which  is  the  elder?”  Antelope  replied,  “Kudu! 
I am  older  than  you!”  But  Tortoise  responded,  “No!  I am 
the  elder!”  Then  Antelope  said,  “Show  me  the  reason  why 
you  are  older  than  I!”  Tortoise  said,  continuing  the  dis- 
cussion, “I  will  show  you  a sign  of  seniority.  Let  us  have  a 
race,  as  a test  of  speed.  ” Antelope  replied  derisively,  “ Aiye! 
how  shall  I know  to  test  speed  with  Kudu?  Does  Kudu 
race?”  However,  he  agreed,  and  said,  “Well!  in  three  days 
the  race  shall  be  made.  ” 

Tortoise  spoke  audaciously,  “You,  Mbalanga,  cannot 
surpass  me  in  a race!”  Antelope  laughed,  having  accepted 
the  challenge;  while  Tortoise  pretended  to  sneer,  and  said, 
“I  am  the  one  who  will  overcome!” 

The  course  chosen,  beginning  on  the  beach  south  of  Batan- 
ga, was  more  than  seventy  miles  from  the  Campo  River 
northward  to  the  Balimba  Country. 

Then  Tortoise  went  away,  going  everywhere  to  give 
directions,  and  returned  to  his  village.  He  sent  word  secretly 
to  all  the  Tortoise  Tribe  to  call  them.  When  they  had  come 
very  many  of  them  together,  he  told  them,  “I  have  called 
my  friend  Mbalanga  for  a race.  I know  that  he  can  surpass 


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97 


me  in  this  race,  unless  you  all  help  me  in  my  plan.  He  will 
follow  the  sea-beach.  You  all  must  line  yourselves  among 
the  bushes  at  the  top  of  the  beach  along  the  entire  route  all 
the  way  from  Campo  to  Balimba.  When  Mbalanga,  coming 
along,  at  any  point,  looks  around  to  see  whether  I am  follow- 
ing, and  calls  out,  “Kudu!  where  are  you?”  the  one  of  you 
who  is  nearest  that  spot  must  step  out  from  his  place,  and 
answer  for  me,  “Here!” 

Thus  he  located  all  the  other  tortoises  in  the  bushes  on  the 
entire  route.  Also,  he  placed  a colored  mark  on  all  the 
tortoises,  making  the  face  of  every  one  alike.  He  stationed 
them  clear  on  to  the  place  where  he  expected  that  Antelope 
would  be  exhausted.  Then  he  ended,  taking  his  own  place 
there. 

Antelope  also  arranged  for  himself,  and  said,  to  his  wife, 
“My  wife!  make  me  food;  for,  Kudu  and  I have  agreed  on  a 
race;  and  it  begins  at  seven  o’clock  in  the  morning.  ” 

When  all  was  ready,  Antelope  said,  to  (the  one  whom  he 
supposed  was)  Kudu,  “Come!  let  us  race!”  They  started. 
Antelope  ran  on  and  on,  and  came  as  far  as  about  ten  miles 
to  the  town  of  Ubenji,  among  the  Igara  people.  At  various 
spots  on  the  way  Tortoise  apparently  was  lost  behind;  but 
as  constantly  he  seemed  to  re-appear,  saying,  “I’m  here!” 

At  once,  Antelope  raced  forward  rapidly,  pu ! pu ! pu ! to  a 
town  named  Ipenyenye.  Then  he  looked  around  and  said, 
“Where  is  Kudu?”  A tortoise  stepped  out  of  the  bushes, 
saying  “Here  I am!  You  haven’t  raced.” 

Antelope  raced  on  until  he  reached  the  town  of  Beya. 
Again  looking  around,  he  said,  “Where  is  Kudu?”  A tor- 
toise stepped  out,  replying,  “I’m  here!” 

Antelope  again  raced,  until  he  reached  the  town  Lolabe. 
Again  he  asked,  “Where  is  Kudu?”  A tortoise  saying  to 
himself,  “He  hasn’t  heard  anything,”  replied,  “Here 
lam!” 

Again  Antelope  raced  on  as  far  as  from  there  to  a rocky 
point  by  the  sea  named  Ilale-ja-moto;  and  then  he  called, 
“Wherever  is  Kudu?”  A tortoise  ready  answered,  “Here 
I am!” 

From  thence,  he  came  on  in  the  race  another  stretch  of 
about  ten  miles,  clear  to  the  town  of  Bongaheli  of  the  Batanga 
people.  At  each  place  on  the  route,  when  Antelope,  losing 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


sight  of  Tortoise,  called,  “Kudu!  where  are  you?”  promptly 
the  tortoise  on  guard  at  that  spot  replied,  “I’m  here!” 

Then  on  he  went,  steadily  going,  going,  another  stretch  of 
about  twenty  miles  to  Plantation  Beach.  Still  the  prompt 
reply  to  Antelope’s  call,  “Kudu,  where  are  you?”  was,  “I’m 
here!” 

As  he  started  away  from  Plantation,  the  wearied  Antelope 
began  to  feel  his  legs  tired.  However,  he  pressed  on  to 
Small  Batanga,  hoping  for  victory  over  his  despised  contest- 
ant. But,  on  his  reaching  the  edge  of  Balimba,  the  tortoise 
was  there  ready  with  his,  “I’m  here!” 

Finally,  on  reaching  the  end  of  the  Balimba  settlement, 
Antelope  fell  down,  dying,  froth  coming  from  his  mouth, 
and  lay  dead,  being  utterly  exhausted  with  running.  But, 
when  Tortoise  arrived,  he  took  a magic-medicine,  and  restored 
Antelope  to  life;  and  then  exulted  over  him  by  beating  him, 
and  saying,  “Don’t  you  show  me  your  audacity  another  day 
by  daring  to  run  with  me ! I have  surpassed  you ! ” 

So,  they  returned  separately  to  their  homes  on  the  Campo 
River.  Tortoise  called  together  the  Tortoise  Tribe;  and 
Antelope  called  all  the  Antelope  Tribe.  And  they  met  in  a 
Council  of  all  the  Animals.  Then  Tortoise  rose  and  spoke — 
“All  you  Kudu  Tribe !Mbalanga  said  I would  not  surpass 
him  in  a race.  But,  this  day  I have  surpassed!” 

So  the  Antelope  Tribe  had  to  acknowledge,  “Yes,  you, 
Kudu,  have  surpassed  our  champion.  It’s  a great  shame  to 
us;  for,  we  had  not  supposed  that  a slow  fellow  such  as  we 
thought  you  to  be,  could  possibly  do  it,  or  be  able  to  out- 
run a Mbalanga.  ” 

So  the  Council  decided  that,  of  all  the  tribes  of  animals, 
Tortoise  was  to  be  held  as  greatest;  for,  that  it  had  out-run 
Antelope.  And  the  Animals  gave  Tortoise  the  power  to  rule. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


99 


TALE  6 

Goat’s  Tournament 
Persons 


Tomba  (Goat) 


Nja  (Leopard) 


NOTE 

The  reason  why  leopards  wander  everywhere,  and  fight 
all  other  animals,  is  their  shame  at  being  overcome  by  a goat. 
Their  ancestor  had  said,  “I  did  not  know  that  a Goat  could 
overcome  me.” 


The  Tribe  of  Goats  sent  a message  to  the  Tribe  of  Leopards, 
saying,  “Let  us  have  a Wrestling  Match,  in  an  effort  to  see 
which  is  the  stronger.  ” Then  Leopard  took  counsel  with  his 
Tribe,  “This  Tribe  of  Goats!  I do  not  see  that  they  have 
any  strength.  Let  us  agree  to  the  contest;  for,  they  can  do 
nothing  to  me.  ” 

So,  the  Goat  Tribe  gathered  all  together;  and  the  Leopard 
Tribe  all  together;  and  they  met  in  a street  of  a town,  to 
engage  in  the  drumming  and  dancing  and  singing  usually 
preceding  such  contests. 

For  the  wrestling,  they  joined  in  thirty  pairs,  one  from 
each  tribe.  The  first  pair  wrestled;  and  the  representative 
of  the  Leopards  was  overcome  and  thrown  to  the  ground. 
Another  pair  joined;  and  again  the  Leopard  champion  was 
overcome.  A third  pair  joined  and  wrestled,  contesting 
desperately;  the  Leopard  in  shame,  and  the  Goat  in  exultation. 
Again  the  Leopard  was  overcome. 

There  was,  during  all  this  time,  drumming  by  the  ad- 
herents of  both  parties.  The  Leopard  drum  was  now  beaten 
fiercely  to  encourage  their  side,  as  they  had  already  been 
overcome  three  times  in  succession. 

Then,  on  the  fourth  effort,  the  Leopard  succeeded  in  over- 
coming. Again  a pair  fought;  and  Leopard  overcame  a 
second  time.  The  sixth  pair  joined;  and  Leopard  said. 


100  WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 

Today  we  wrestle  to  settle  that  doubt  as  to  which  of  us  is 
the  stronger.  ” 

So,  pair  after  pair  wrestled,  until  all  of  the  thirty  arranged 
pairs  had  contested.  Of  these,  the  Leopard  tribe  were 
victors  ten  times;  and  the  Goat  Tribe  twenty  times. 

Then  the  Leopard  tribe  said,  “We  are  ashamed  that  the 
report  should  go  out  among  all  the  animals  that  we  beat 
only  ten  times,  and  the  Tomba  twenty  times.  So,  we  will 
not  stay  any  longer  here,  with  their  and  our  towns  near  to- 
gether:” for  they  knew  that  their  Leopard  tribe  would  always 
be  angry  when  they  should  see  a company  of  Goats  passing, 
remembering  how  often  they  were  beaten.  So,  they  moved 
away  into  the  forest  distant  from  their  hated  rivals.  In 
their  cherished  anger  at  being  beaten,  and  to  cover  their 
shame,  Leopard  attacks  a Goat  when  he  meets  him  alone, 
or  any  other  single  beast  known  to  be  friendly  to  the 
Goats,  e.  g..  Oxen  or  Antelopes. 


TALE  7 

Why  Goats  Became  Domestic 
Persons 

Tomba-Ya-Taba  (Goat)  Nja  (Leopard) 

With  Etoli,  plural  Betoli  (Rat)  Ko  (Wild-Rat) 

Vyadu  (Antelope,  plural  La-  Njaku  (Elephant) 
du)  Mankind 

Nyati  (Ox) 

Goat  and  his  mother  lived  alone  in  their  village.  He  said 
to  her,  “I  have  here  a magic-medicine  to  strengthen  one  in 
wrestling.  There  is  no  one  who  can  overcome  me,  or  cast 
me  down;  I can  overcome  any  other  person.” 

The  other  Beasts  heard  of  this  boast;  and  they  took  up 
the  challenge.  First,  house-Rats,  hundreds  of  them,  came 
to  Goat’s  village,  to  test  him.  And  they  began  the  wrest- 
ling. He  overcame  them,  one  by  one,  to  the  number  of  two 
hundred.  So,  the  Rats  went  back  to  their  places,  admitting 
that  they  were  not  able  to  overcome  him. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


101 


Then,  forest-Rat  came  to  wrestle  with  Goat.  He  over- 
came them  also,  all  of  them.  And  they  went  back  to  their 
own  place  defeated. 

Then,  the  Antelope  came  to  wrestle  with  Goat.  He  over- 
came all  the  Antelopes,  every  one  of  them;  not  one  was  able 
to  withstand  him.  And  they  also  went  back  to  their 
places. 

Also,  Elephant  with  all  the  elephants,  came  on  that  same 
challenge.  Goat  overcame  all  the  Elephants;  and  they  too, 
went  back  to  their  place. 

Thus,  all  the  Beasts  came,  in  the  same  way,  and  were 
overcome  in  the  same  way,  and  went  back  in  the  same  way. 

But,  there  still  remained  one  Beast,  only  one.  Leopard, 
who  had  not  made  the  attempt.  So  he  said  he  would  go; 
as  he  was  sure  he  could  overcome.  He  came.  Goat  over- 
came him  also.  So,  it  was  proved  that  not  a single  beast 
could  withstand  Goat. 

Then  the  Father  of  All-the-Leopards  said,  “I  am  ashamed 
that  this  Beast  should  overcome  me.  I will  kill  him ! ” And 
he  made  a plan  to  do  so.  He  went  to  the  spring  where  Man- 
kind got  their  drinking-water.  And  he  stood,  hiding  at  the 
spring.  Men  of  the  town  went  to  the  spring  to  get  water; 
Leopard  killed  two  of  them.  The  people  went  to  tell  Goat, 
“Go  away  from  here,  for  Leopard  is  killing  Mankind  on 
your  account.”  The  Mother  of  Goat  said  to  him,  “If  that 
is  so,  let  us  go  to  my  brother  Vyadu.”  So  they  both  went 
to  go  to  Uncle  Antelope.  And  they  came  to  his  village. 
When  they  told  him  their  errand,  he  bravely  said,  “Remain 
here!  Let  me  see  Nja  come  here  with  his  audacity!” 

They  were  then  at  Antelope’s  village,  about  two  days. 
On  the  third  day,  about  eight  o’clock  in  the  morning,  Leo- 
pard came  there  as  if  for  a walk.  When  Antelope  saw  him, 
Goat  and  his  mother  hid  themselves;  and  Antelope  asked 
Leopard,  “What  is  your  anger?  Why  are  you  angry  with 
my  nephew?” 

At  that  very  moment  while  Antelope  was  speaking,  Leo- 
pard seized  him  on  the  ear.  Antelope  cried  out,  “What 
are  you  killing  me  for?”  Leopard  replied,  “Show  me  the 
place  where  Tomba-Taba  and  his  mother  are.”  So,  Ante- 
lope being  afraid  said,  “Come  tonight,  and  I will  show  you 
where  they  sleep.  And  you  kill  them;  but  don’t  kill  me.  ” 


102 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


While  he  was  saying  this,  Goat  overheard,  and  said  to  his 
mother,  “We  must  flee,  lest  Nja  kill  us.”  So,  at  sun-down, 
that  evening,  Goat  and  his  mother  fled  to  the  village  of  Ele- 
phant. About  midnight,  Leopard  came  to  Antelope’s 
village,  according  to  appointment,  and  looked  for  Goat,  but 
did  not  find  him.  Leopard  went  to  all  the  houses  of  the 
village,  and  when  he  came  to  Antelope’s  own,  in  his  disap- 
pointment, he  killed  him. 

Leopard  kept  up  his  search,  and  followed  to  find  where 
Goat  had  gone.  Following  the  tracks,  he  came  to  the  village 
of  Elephant.  When  he  arrived  there,  Elephant  demanded, 
“What’s  the  matter?”  And  the  same  conversation  was 
held,  as  at  Antelope’s  village,  and  the  incidents  happened  as 
at  that  village,  ending  with  Elephant’s  being  killed  by  Leo- 
pard. For,  Goat  and  his  mother  had  fled,  and  had  gone  to 
the  village  of  Ox. 

Leopard  followed,  and  came  to  Ox’s  village.  There  all  the 
same  things  were  said  and  done,  as  in  the  other  villages,  and 
ending  with  Goat  and  his  mother  fleeing,  and  Ox  being  killed. 

Then,  the  mother,  wearying  of  flight,  and  sorry  at  causing 
their  entertainers  to  be  killed,  said,  “My  child!  if  we  con- 
tinue to  flee  to  the  villages  of  other  beasts,  Nja  will  follow, 
and  will  kill  them.  Let  us  flee  to  the  homes  of  Mankind.  ” 

So,  they  fled  again,  and  came  to  the  town  of  Man,  and  told 
him  their  story.  He  received  them  kindly.  He  took  Goat 
and  his  mother  as  guests,  and  gave  them  a house  to  live  in. 

One  time,  at  night,  Leopard  came  to  the  town  of  Man,  in 
pursuit  of  Goat.  But  Man  said  to  Leopard,  “Those  Beasts 
whom  you  killed,  failed  to  find  a way  in  which  to  kill  you. 
But,  if  you  come  here,  we  will  find  a way.  ” So,  that  night, 
Leopard  went  back  to  his  village. 

On  another  day,  Mankind  began  to  make  a big  trap,  with 
two  rooms  in  it.  They  took  Goat  and  put  him  in  one  room 
of  the  trap.  Night  came.  Leopard  left  his  village,  still 
going  to  seek  for  Goat;  and  he  came  again  to  the  town  of  Man. 
Leopard  stood  still,  listened,  and  sniffed  the  air.  He  smelled 
the  odor  of  Goat,  and  was  glad,  and  said,  “So!  this  night  I 
will  kill  him!” 

He  saw  an  open  way  to  a small  house.  He  thought  it  was 
a door.  He  entered,  and  was  caught  in  the  trap.  He  could 
see  Goat  through  the  cracks  in  the  wall,  but  could  not  get 


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103 


at  him.  Goat  jeered  at  him,  “My  friend!  you  were  about 
to  kill  me,  but  you  are  unable.  ” 

Daybreak  came.  And  people  of  Man’s  town  found  Leo- 
pard in  the  trap,  caught  fast.  They  took  machetes  and 
guns,  and  killed  him.  Then  Man  said  to  Goat,  “You  shall 
not  go  back  to  the  Forest;  remain  here  always.” 

This  is  the  reason  that  Goats  like  to  live  with  mankind, 
through  fear  of  Leopards. 


TALE  8 

Igwana ’s  Forked  Tongue 
Persons 

Ngambi  (Igwana)  Vyadu  (Antelope) 

Njd  (Leopard)  Iheli  (Gazelle) 

Betoli  (Rats)  Ehibo  (Red  Antelope) 

NOTE 

Natives  believe  that  the  Igwana  kills  with  its  long  tongue. 
This  story  assigns  the  fear  of  leopards  as  a reason  why  Igwa- 
nas  like  to  live  near  water.  Igwanas  swim  readily,  while 
leopards  (as  all  the  cat-tribe)  do  not  like  even  to  wet  their 
feet. 


There  were  two  friends,  Igwana  and  Leopard,  living  in 
the  same  village,  one  at  each  end.  Igwana  had  six  wives; 
Leopard  also  had  six.  Leopard  begot  twenty  children; 
Igwana  had  eight.  One  time,  at  night,  they  were  sitting 
with  their  wives  and  children  in  the  street,  in  a conversation. 
Leopard  said  to  Igwana,  “Ngambi!  I have  a word  to  say  to 
you.  ” Igwana  said,  “ Speak.  ” 

Then  Leopard  said,  “I  wish  you  and  me  to  have  our  food 
together.”  Igwana  agreed,  “Well.”  And  Leopard  ar- 
ranged, “For  two  months,  you  shall  come  and  eat  in  my 
house;  and  then,  for  two  months,  I at  your  house.” 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


And  they  separated,  to  go  to  their  houses  for  sleep. 

Soon  the  night  passed,  and  day  broke. 

Leopard  went  to  the  forest  and  killed  an  Antelope.  He 
and  Igwana  and  their  families  spent  four  days  in  eating  it. 

On  another  day,  Leopard  went  to  the  forest  and  killed  a 
Gazelle.  It  also  was  finished  in  four  days. 

And  again,  Leopard  went  to  the  forest,  and  killed  a Red 
Antelope.  They  were  occupied  in  eating  it  also  four 
days. 

So,  they  continued  all  the  two  months.  Then  Leopard 
said,  “Ngambi!  it  is  your  time  to  begin  the  food.  ” Igwana 
replied,  “I  have  no  wild  meat,  only  vegetables.” 

On  the  following  day,  Igwana  got  ready  his  food  and  sent 
word  for  Leopard  to  come  to  eat.  He  came  and  ate,  there 
being  on  the  table  only  vegetables  and  salt.  Then  the  day 
darkened;  and,  in  the  evening  they  all  came  together  in  one 
place,  as  usual.  Leopard  said  to  Igwana,  “I  began  my  turn 
with  meats  in  my  house,  and  you  ate  them.  I cannot  eat 
only  vegetables  and  salt.”  Igwana  explained,  “I  do  not 
know  the  arts  for  killing  beasts.”  Leopard  told  him,  “Be- 
gin now  to  try  the  art  of  how  to  catch  beasts.”  Igwana 
replied,  “If  I begin  a plan  for  catching  Beasts,  that  plan 
will  be  a dreadful  one.  ” Leopard  exclaimed,  “ Good ! begin ! ” 

Igwana  promised,  “Tomorrow  I will  begin.” 

And  they  all  went  to  their  houses  to  sleep  their  sleep. 
The  night  passed,  and  day  broke. 

Igwana  started  out  very  early  in  the  morning.  On  the 
way,  he  came  to  a big  tree.  He  stood  at  its  base,  and,  with 
a cord,  he  loosely  tied  his  own  hands  and  feet  around  the  tree. 
Then  he  began  to  squeak  as  if  in  pain,  “Hwa!  hwa!  hwa!” 
three  times. 

At  that  same  time,  a child  of  Leopard  had  gone  wandering 
out  into  the  forest.  He  found  Igwana  tied  to  the  tree  and 
crying.  Igwana  said  to  him,  “Ah!  my  child ! come  near  me, 
and  untie  me.  ” 

The  child  of  Leopard  came  near  to  him;  and  then  Igwana 
thrust  his  forked  tongue  into  the  nostrils  of  young  leopard, 
and  pulled  his  brains  out,  so  that  the  child  died.  Then 
Igwana  untied  himself,  skinned  the  young  leopard,  divided 
it,  tied  the  pieces  in  a big  bundle  of  leaves,  and  took  them 
and  the  skin  to  the  village.  There  he  gave  the  meat  to  his 


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105 


wife,  who  put  it  in  a pot.  And  he  went  to  his  house,  and 
left  the  skin  hanging  in  his  bedroom. 

Then  when  the  meat  was  cooked,  he  sent  word  for  Leopard 
to  come  and  eat.  Leopard  came  and  sat  down  at  the  table, 
and  they  ate.  As  they  were  eating,  Leopard  said,  “Ah!  my 
friend!  You  said  you  did  not  know  how  to  catch  beasts! 
What  is  this  fine  meat?’ 

Igwana  replied,  “I  am  unable  to  tell  you.  Just  you  eat 
it.”  So,  they  ate,  and  finished  eating.  Igwana  continued 
that  way  for  two  weeks,  killing  the  young  leopards. 

At  that  Leopard  said  to  himself,  “I  had  begotten  twenty 
children,  but  now  I find  only  ten.  Where  are  the  other  ten?  ” 
He  asked  his  children  where  their  brothers  were.  They 
answered  that  they  did  not  know,  “Perhaps  they  were  lost 
in  the  forest.”  The  while  that  Igwana  was  killing  the 
young  leopards,  he  had  hidden  their  skins  all  in  his  bed- 
room. 

On  another  day,  Leopard  and  Igwana  began  a journey 
together  to  a place  about  forty  miles  distant.  Before  he 
started,  Igwana  closed  his  house,  and  said  to  his  children, 
“Nja  and  I are  going  on  a journey;  while  I am  away,  do  not 
let  any  one  enter  into  my  bedroom.”  And  they  two  went 
together  on  their  journey.  They  reached  their  journey’s 
end,  and  were  there  for  the  duration  of  seven  days.  While 
they  were  gone,  there  was  no  one  to  get  meat  for  their  people, 
and  there  came  on  their  village  a great  njangu  (hunger  for 
meat) . 

One  of  those  days,  in  the  village,  so  great  was  that  famine 
that  the  children  of  Leopard  were  searching  for  rats  for  food. 
The  rats  ran  away  to  the  house  of  Igwana  that  was  shut  up; 
and  the  children  of  Leopard  pursued.  But  the  children  of 
Igwana  said  to  them,  “Do  not  enter  the  house!  Our  father 
forbade  it!  Stop  at  the  door-way!” 

But  the  young  leopards  replied,  “No!  all  the  Betoli  have 
run  in  there.  We  must  follow.”  So,  they  broke  down  the 
door.  There  they  found  skins  of  young  leopards,  and  they 
exclaimed,  “So!  indeed!  Ngambi  kills  our  brothers!”  And 
two  days  later,  the  two  fathers  came  back  to  the  village. 

The  young  igwanas  told  their  father  that  the  young  leo- 
pards had  broken  the  door,  and  found  leopard-skins  hanging 
inside.  Igwana  asked  them,  “Really?  They  saw?”  The 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


young  igwanas  answered,  “Yes!  they  saw!”  Then  Igwana 
said,  “Be  on  your  guard!  For,  Nja  will  be  angry  with  me.” 
Also,  the  young  leopards  said  to  their  father,  “Paia!  so  it 
is  that  Ngambi  killed  our  brothers.  We  saw  their  skins  in 
his  bedroom.”  Leopard  asked,  “Truly?”  They  answered, 
“ Yes ! we  saw ! ” He  said  only,  “ Well,  let  it  be.  ” 

On  another  day,  Leopard  said,  “This  night  I will  go  to 
Ngambi  to  kill  him  and  all  his  children.”  The  wife  of 
Igwana  heard  this,  and  told  him,  “Tonight,  Nja  will  come  to 
kill  you  and  our  children.  ” At  this,  Igwana  said  to  himself 
“ But ! we  must  flee,  I,  and  my  children,  and  my  wives ! ” So, 
they  all  went  and  hid  in  the  water  of  a small  stream. 

Leopard  came,  in  the  dark  of  the  morning,  to  Igwana’s 
house,  and  entered  it;  but  he  saw  no  people,  only  the  skins 
of  his  children.  So  he  exclaimed,  “At  whatever  place  I 
shall  see  Ngambi,  I will  kill  and  eat  him.  We,  he  and  I, 
have  no  more  friendship ! ” 


TALE  9 

What  Caused  their  Deaths? 
Persons 

Mbwa  (Dog)  Kudu  (Tortoise) 
Mbala  (Squirrel) 


NOTE 

Dog  and  squirrel  were  of  the  same  age,  and  they  met  with 
the  same  end.  They  each  had  an  object  of  their  special 
liking,  the  excessive  use  of  which  finally  was  the  cause  of 
their  death. 


Dog,  Squirrel,  Tortoise  and  others  were  living  in  one  town. 
They  all,  at  that  time,  ate  of  the  same  kind  of  food.  But, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


107 


they  were  at  peace  in  that  village  during  only  two  weeks. 
Then  Squirrel  and  Dog  said  to  Tortoise,  “Let  us  divide,  and 
have  peace  each  at  our  separate  villages.  You,  Kudu,  and 
the  others  can  stay  at  this  spot  if  you  like.  ” 

Squirrel  said  he  would  remove  to  a place  about  three  miles 
distant  north.  Dog  went  about  three  miles  in  the  opposite 
direction.  So,  each  had  his  own  little  hamlet. 

On  another  day,  Squirrel  said  to  his  wife,  “ I am  going  on  a 
journey  to  see  my  friend  Mbwa.  ” He  started,  came  to 
Dog’s  place,  and  entered  the  house.  Dog  welcomed  him, 
played  with  him,  and  killed  a fowl  for  their  dinner.  With 
Squirrel  had  come  one  of  his  wives. 

While  the  women  were  cooking  inside  the  house,  Dog  and 
Squirrel  were  sitting  in  the  ikenga  (reception-room).  They 
were  conversing  there.  After  awhile,  Dog  said  to  Squirrel 
“Excuse  me,  I will  go  to  see  about  the  food.”  He  went  in- 
side, and  lay  down  near  the  fire,  and  Squirrel  was  left  alone. 

Dog  stayed  there  inside  the  house,  until  the  food  was 
cooked.  Then  he  came  out  to  his  friend,  and  began  to  set 
the  table,  while  the  women  came  in  with  the  food,  and  put 
it  on  the  table.  Dog  drew  up  by  the  table  ready  to  eat;  and 
Squirrel  also;  and  Squirrel’s  wife,  and  Dog’s  wife  also,  mak- 
ing four  at  the  table. 

During  the  eating,  Squirrel  said  to  Dog,  “ My  friend ! when 
you  left  me  here  in  the  ikenga,  where  did  you  go  to,  the  while 
that  the  women  were  cooking  the  food?”  Dog  answered, 
“ Ah ! my  friend,  you  know  that  I like  fire  very  much.  While 
we  were  talking  here,  you  and  I,  cold  seized  me.  ” 

Then  Squirrel  said,  “Ah!  my  friend,  you  like  fire  too  much; 
I think  you  will  die  of  fire  some  day.  ” 

They  finished  the  food;  and  after  that,  Squirrel  prepared 
his  return  journey  to  his  village.  And  he  said  to  Dog,  “My 
friend  Mbwa,  how  many  days  before  you  shall  come  to  my 
place?”  Dog  answered,  “In  two  days,  then  will  I come. ” 
So,  Squirrel  returned  to  his  village.  His  wives  and  child- 
ren told  him  the  daily  news  of  what  had  occurred  in  the 
village  while  he  wTas  away.  And  he  told  them  about  what 
he  had  seen  at  Dog’s.  And  he  added,  “But,  there  is  one 
thing  I noticed;  my  friend  Mbwa  likes  fire  very  much.” 

He  waited  the  two  days;  Dog  came  on  his  visit;  and  Squir- 
rel killed  a fowl  for  his  guest.  And  he  bade  his  woman  cook 


108 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


the  fowl.  In  the  meanwhile,  Dog  and  Squirrel  sat  in  the 
ikenga  conversing.  Presently  Squirrel  said  to  Dog,  “Excuse 
me,  I am  going.  I will  return.  ” 

Squirrel  went  out  into  his  garden,  and  climbed  up  a banana 
stalk,  and  began  eating  the  ripe  fruit  at  the  top  of  the  bunch. 
After  awhile,  he  came  down  again.  And  he  went  into  the 
ikenga  to  prepare  the  table  for  the  food.  When  it  was 
ready,  Dog  sat  up  at  the  table.  With  him  were  his  wife,  and 
Squirrel  and  Squirrel’s  wife. 

Presently,  Dog  inquired  of  Squirrel,  “My  friend!  when 
you  left  me  sitting  here  alone,  where  did  you  go  to?  ” Squir- 
rel answered,  “My  friend!  you  know  I like  to  eat  bananas. 
So,  I was  up  the  tree,”  Then  Dog  said,  “My  friend!  you 
love  bananas  too  much;  some  day,  you  will  die  with  them.  ” 

When  they  had  finished  their  food,  Dog  said,  “I  am  on 
my  return  to  my  village.”  So  he  returned  thither.  But 
he  was  arrived  there  only  two  days  when  he  happened  to 
fall  into  the  fire-place.  And  he  died  in  the  fire.  The  news 
was  carried  to  his  friend  Squirrel,  “Your  friend  Mbwa  is 
dead  by  fire.”  Squirrel  replied,  “Yes,  I said  so;  for  he 
loved  fire  too  much.  ” 

On  another  day,  in  Man’s  town,  a person  went  to  look  for 
food  at  his  banana  tree.  And  he  saw  that  the  fruit  was 
eaten  at  the  top,  by  some  animal.  So,  that  Man  made  a 
snare  at  the  Banana  tree.  On  the  next  day,  Squirrel  said  to 
himself,  “I’m  going  to  eat  my  banana  food  wherever  I shall 
find  it.” 

He  came  to  the  town  of  Man,  and  climbed  the  tree.  The 
snare  caught  and  killed  him;  and  he  died  there.  The  Man 
came  and  found  the  body  of  Squirrel;  and  he  exclaimed 
“Good!” 

The  news  was  carried  to  the  village  of  Squirrel’s  children, 
“Your  father  is  dead,  at  a banana  tree.” 

And  they  said,  “Yes;  for  our  father  loved  bananas  very 
much.  He  had  said  that  Mbwa  would  die  by  fire  because 
he  loved  fire.  And  himself  also  loved  bananas.  ” 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


109 


TALE  10 

A Quarrel  About  Seniority 


Ihendi  (Squirrel) 
And  2 Children 


Persons 

Ikundu  (Vengeance) 
Ihana  (Help) 


Pe  (Viper) 
A Hunter 


NOTE 

This  story  suggests  that  when  a neighbor  flatters  another, 
suspicion  is  raised  that  he  is  plotting  some  evil.  Squirrel 
and  the  Adder  professed  great  friendship;  but  their  friend- 
ship was  soon  broken. 

Claims  of  seniority  are  a constant  cause  of  native  quarrels. 

A certain  fetish-charm  or  “medicine”  (generally  poisonous) 
is  supposed  to  be  able  to  decide,  on  its  being  drunk  by  accused 
parties,  as  to  their  guilt  or  innocence. 

There  is  a common  belief  in  premonitions  by  unusual 
beats  of  the  heart,  or  twitching  of  any  muscle. 


Squirrel  and  Adder  were  great  friends,  living  in  the  same 
town.  Each  of  them  had  two  wives. 

One  day,  in  the  afternoon,  Squirrel  and  one  of  his  wives 
went  into  the  house  of  Adder.  The  latter  said  to  his  wife, 
“Make  ready  food.”  So,  she  made  a great  deal  of  food. 
Then  he  said  to  his  friend  Squirrel,  “Come,  eat!”  But 
Squirrel  said,  “I  won’t  eat  alone  without  my  wife.”  So  he 
called  his  wife  to  eat.  His  wife  came  and  ate  at  the  table. 
Then  he  said  to  Adder,  “Also,  you  call  your  wife  to  eat  with 
us.”  So  Adder’s  wife  came.  And  Squirrel  said  to  Adder, 
“Now  let  us  eat;  for,  everything  is  right.”  So  they  began 
to  eat. 

While  they  were  eating,  Adder  said,  “I  have  a word  to  say 
about  you,  Ihendi.”  Squirrel  replied,  “Speak  your  word; 


110 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


I will  listen.”  Then  Adder  asked,  “You,  Ihendi,  and  I,  Pe; 
which  is  the  elder?  And  your  wife  and  my  wife;  also  which 
is  the  elder?”  Squirrel  replied,  “I  am  the  elder,  and  my 
wife  is  older  than  your  wife.”  But  Adder  said,  “No!  I am 
the  elder;  and  my  wife  is  older  than  yours.”  Squirrel  re- 
sponded, “I  will  give  you  my  answer  tomorrow  in  my  own 
house.  ” This  occurred  in  the  evening. 

Then  the  day  darkened,  and  Squirrel  went  to  his  house  to 
lie  down.  Adder  also  went  to  lie  down  in  his  bedroom. 

In  the  night,  Squirrel  remarked  to  his  wife,  “My  wife! 
what  sort  of  a word  is  this  that  Pe  has  spoken  about  so  to 
me?  I don’t  know  about  his  birth,  and  he  does  not  know 
of  mine.  We  have  no  other  person  in  the  town  who  is  able 
to  decide  which  of  us  is  the  elder,  and  which  the  younger. 
This  question  has  some  affair  behind  it.  ” His  wife  replied 
“I  think  that  Pe  wants  to  get  up  a quarrel  in  order  to  kill 
you  or  our  children.  ” Squirrel  had  two  children,  one  named 
Vengeance  and  the  other  Help.  Squirrel  replied  to  his  wife, 
“No!  I will  have  no  discussion  with  Pe;  but  tomorrow  there 
shall  be  only  a test  of  Medicine.  ” 

Soon  the  day  broke.  Squirrel  sent  word  to  Pe,  “Chum! 
you  and  I will  have  today  nothing  else  but  a medicine-test 
and  no  quarrel.  For,  you  and  I profess  to  love  each  other. 
I do  this  to  prove  both  yourself  and  myself,  lest  you  get  up 
some  affair  against  me,  even  though  we  love  each  other  very 
much.”  Adder  consented,  “Yes;  get  the  Medicine.  I will 
know  then  what  I shall  say.  ” 

Squirrel  went  to  the  forest  to  get  leaves  and  bark  of  a 
certain  tree  for  the  kwai  (test).  On  his  return,  he  said  to 
Adder,  “Here  is  the  test;  let  us  drink  of  it.  ” Adder  replied, 
“The  Medicine  is  of  your  getting.  You  first  drink  of  it.” 
Squirrel  agreed,  “Yes,  I will  drink  first.” 

So,  Squirrel,  conscious  of  his  innocence,  drank  the  test 
and  swore  an  oath,  “If  I meet  Pe’s  mother,  it  shall  be  only 
in  peace.  Or  his  father,  only  peace;  or  his  children,  only 
peace.”  Squirrel  added,  “I  have  finished  speaking  for  my 
part.  ” And  he  sat  down  on  the  ground. 

Then  Adder  arose  from  his  seat  and  stood  up.  And  he 
exclaimed,  “Yes!  let  it  be  so!”  He  took  up  the  medicine 
from  the  ground;  and  he  drank  of  it  greedily.  And  he  swore, 
“If  I meet  with  the  children  of  Ihende,  it  will  be  only  to 


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111 


swallow  them.  Or,  father  of  Ihende,  only  to  eat  him;  or 
mother  of  Ihende,  only  to  eat  her!”  Then  he  sat  down. 

But,  Squirrel  exclaimed,  “Ha!  my  friend!  you  saw  how  I 
drank  my  share  of  the  medicine,  and  I have  not  spoken  thus 
as  you.  For  what  reason  have  you  thus  spoken?”  Adder 
answered,  “Yes!  I said  so;  and  I will  not  alter  my  words. ” 

They  dispersed  from  the  medicine  ordeal,  and  went  each 
to  his  house.  Then  that  day  darkened  into  night.  And 
they  all  went  to  their  sleep. 

Soon  the  next  day  broke.  Squirrel  and  his  wife  prepared 
for  a journey  to  the  forest  to  seek  food.  He  said  to  his  wife, 
“Leave  the  children  in  the  house.”  So  the  woman  shut 
them  in,  and  closed  the  doors  tight.  And  he  and  she  went 
off  to  the  forest. 

Later  on  in  the  morning,  Adder  arose  from  his  place,  and 
he  said  to  himself,  “I’m  going  to  stroll  over  to  the  house  of 
my  friend  Ihende.”  So  he  came  to  Squirrel’s  house,  and 
found  no  one  there.  He  tried  to  break  in  the  door;  finally, 
he  succeeded  in  opening  it;  and  he  entered  the  house.  He 
found  the  two  children  of  Squirrel  lying  together  asleep. 
He  shook  them,  and  they  awoke.  He  asked  them,  “Where 
is  my  friend?”  They  answered,  “Our  father  and  mother 
have  gone  to  the  forest.  ” 

Then  Adder  suddenly  joined  the  two  children  together 
and  swallowed  them.  (They  were  both  of  them  lads.) 
Then  he  went  out  of  the  house,  and  closed  the  door.  His 
stomach  being  distended  with  what  he  had  swallowed,  he 
went  back  to  his  house,  and  laid  down  on  his  bed. 

Off  in  the  forest.  Squirrel  said  to  his  wife,  “My  heart  beats 
so  strangely!  I have  eaten  nothing  here;  what  should  dis- 
turb my  heart?”  His  wife  replied,  “Well!  let  us  hasten 
back  to  town.  Perhaps  some  affair  has  happened  in  our 
house!” 

They  hastily  gathered  their  food,  to  go  back  rapidly  to 
town.  On  their  arrival,  they  went  at  once  to  their  house. 
Looking  at  the  door,  the  wife  exclaimed,  “I  did  not  leave 
this  door  so!  Who  has  been  at  it?”  Her  husband  urged, 
“Quickly!  Open  the  door!  Let  us  enter  at  once!”  They 
opened  the  door;  and  found  no  one  in  the  house. 

Then  Squirrel,  fearing  evil,  said  to  her,  “ Stay  you  here ! I 
will  go  over  to  Pe’s  house.  I know  that  fellow!”  He  came 


112 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


to  Adder’s  house,  and  found  him  distended  with  this  stomach. 
Squirrel  asked  him,  “Chum!  have  you  been  at  my  house?” 
Adder  answered,  “Yes,  I went  to  your  house;  but  I have 
done  nothing  there.”  Squirrel  asked  him,  feeling  sure  of 
his  guilt,  “But,  where  then  are  my  children?  Why  did  you 
not  leave  even  one  of  them?  Ah!  my  friend!”  Adder 
replied,  “When  we  drank  the  Test,  did  I not  swear  the  truth 
that  if  I met  with  your  children,  I would  swallow  them?’ 
Squirrel  answered,  “Yes!  and  you  have  kept  your  word  well! 
But  you  shall  see  something  just  now  and  here!”  Adder 
laughed,  and  said,  “ What  can  you  do  ? You  have  no  strength 
like  mine.  ” 

Close  by  the  house  of  Adder  (which  was  only  a hole  in  the 
ground)  was  a large  tree.  Squirrel  went  out  of  the  house, 
and  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  tree.  There  he  began  to  wail 
for  his  dead,  and  cried  out,  “ Ikundu  ja  ma ! Ikundu  ja  ma ! ” 
(A  play  on  words : either  an  apostrophe  to  the  name  of  one  of 
his  children,  or  a prayer  for  vengeance).  Another  squirrel, 
that  was  a mile  or  two  away,  heard  the  wailing;  and  it  came 
to  where  Squirrel  was.  Also  his  wife  followed  Squirrel  to 
that  tree;  and  she  wailed  too.  And  other  squirrels  came; 
about  twenty. 

A hunter,  living  in  the  town  of  Mankind,  started  from 
his  town  to  go  hunting.  Coming  along  the  path,  he  heard 
Squirrel  crying.  Looking  up,  he  exclaimed,  “O!  how  many 
squirrels!”  He  thought  to  himself,  “Why  do  these  animals 
make  this  noise,  and  keep  looking  down  at  the  foot  of  this 
big  tree?” 

He  approached  near  to  the  tree;  and  they  dispersed  among 
the  branches.  He  then  said  to  himself,  “I  will  look  around 
here  at  the  bottom;  for,  as  those  squirrels  continue  their 
cry,  they  keep  looking  down  here.”  Searching  at  the  foot 
of  the  tree,  he  saw  a hole,  like  the  home  of  some  beast.  Look- 
ing in,  he  saw  the  Adder  sluggish  in  his  distention.  The 
hunter  killed  it  with  his  machete.  And  he  took  the  dead 
adder  with  him  to  the  town  of  Mankind. 

Squirrel,  from  the  tree-top,  shouted  after  dead  Adder, 
“You  have  seen  my  promised  Ikundu.”  (Another  play  on 
words;  either — “You  saw  my  child;”  or,  “You  see  my 
Vengeance.  ”) 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


113 


TALE  11 
The  Magic  Drum 
Persons 

Kudu  (Tortoise)  Nja  (Leopard) 

King  Maseni,  A Man  Ngama  (A  Magic  Drum) 


NOTE 

The  reason  is  here  given  why  the  turtle  tribe  of  tortoises 
likes  to  live  only  in  water;  viz.,  their  fear  of  the  vengeance  of 
the  descendants  of  Leopard  the  King,  because  of  the  whipping 
to  which  he  was  subjected  by  the  trick  of  the  ancestor  of  the 
tortoises. 


In  the  Ancient  days,  there  were  Mankind  and  all  the 
Tribes  of  the  Animals  living  together  in  one  country.  They 
built  their  towns,  and  they  dwelt  together  in  one  place.  In 
the  country  of  King  Maseni,  Tortoise  and  Leopard  occupied 
the  same  town;  the  one  at  one  end  of  the  street,  and  the  other 
at  the  other. 

Leopard  married  two  women;  Tortoise  also  his  two. 

It  happened  that  a time  of  famine  came,  and  a very  great 
hunger  fell  on  the  Tribes  covering  that  whole  region  of 
country.  So,  King  Maseni  issued  a law,  thus: — “Any  person 
who  shall  be  found  having  a piece  of  food,  he  shall  he  brought 
to  me.”  (That  is,  for  the  equal  distribution  of  that  food.) 
And  he  appointed  police  as  watchmen  to  look  after  that 
whole  region. 

The  famine  increased.  People  sat  down  hopelessly,  and 
died  of  hunger.  Just  as,  even  today,  it  destroys  the  poor; 
not  only  of  Africa,  but  also  in  the  lands  of  Manga-Manene 
(White  Man’s  Land).  And,  as  the  days  passed,  people 
continued  sitting  in  their  hopelessness. 

One  day,  Tortoise  went  out  early,  going,  going  and  entering 
into  the  jungles,  to  seek  for  his  special  food,  mushrooms. 


114 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


He  had  said  to  his  wife,  “I  am  going  to  stroll  on  the  beach 
off  down  toward  the  south.  ” As  he  journeyed  and  journeyed, 
he  came  to  a river.  It  was  a large  one,  several  hundred  feet 
in  width.  There  he  saw  a coco-nut  tree  growing  on  the 
river-bank.  When  he  reached  the  foot  of  the  tree,  and 
looked  up  at  its  top,  he  discovered  that  it  was  full  of  very 
many  nuts.  He  said  to  himself.  “I’m  going  up  there,  to 
gather  nuts;  for,  hunger  has  seized  me.”  He  laid  aside  his 
traveling-bag,  leaving  it  on  the  ground,  and  at  once  climbed 
the  tree,  expecting  to  gather  many  of  the  nuts.  He  plucked 
two,  and  threw  them  to  the  ground.  Plucking  another,  and 
attempting  to  throw  it,  it  slipped  from  his  hand,  and  fell 
into  the  stream  running  below. 

Then  he  exclaimed,  “I’ve  come  here  in  hunger;  and  does 
my  coco-nut  fall  into  the  water  to  be  lost?”  He  said  to  him- 
self, “I’ll  leave  here,  and  drop  into  the  water,  and  follow  the 
nut.”  So,  he  plunged  down,  splash!  into  the  water.  He 
dove  down  to  where  the  nut  had  sunk,  to  get  it.  And  he 
was  carried  away  by  the  current.  Following  the  nut  where 
the  current  had  carried  it,  he  came  to  the  landing-place  of  a 
strange  Town,  where  was  a large  House.  People  were  there 
in  it.  And  other  people  were  outside,  playing.  They  called 
to  him.  From  the  House,  he  heard  a Voice,  saying  “Take 
me ! take  me ! take  me ! ” (It  was  a Drum  that  spoke.) 

At  the  landing-place  was  a woman  washing  a child.  The 
woman  said  to  him,  “What  is  it  that  brought  you  here? 
And,  Kudu,  wThere  are  you  going?”  He  replied,  “There  is 
great  hunger  in  our  town.  So,  on  my  way,  I came  seeking 
for  my  mushrooms  Then  it  was  that  I saw  a coco  tree; 
and  I climbed  it;  for,  I am  hungry  and  have  nothing  to  eat. 
I threw  down  the  nuts.  One  fell  into  the  river.  I followed 
it;  and  I came  hither.”  Then  the  woman  said,  “Now  then, 
you  are  saved.”  And  she  added,  “Kudu!  go  to  that  House 
over  there.  You  will  see  a Thing  there.  That  Thing  is  a 
Drum.  Start,  and  go  at  once  to  where  the  Drums  are.  ” 

Others  of  those  people  called  out  to  him,  “There  are  many 
such  Things  there.  But,  the  kind  that  you  will  see  which 
says,  ‘Take  me!  take  me!’  do  not  take  it.  But,  the  Drum 
which  is  silent  and  does  not  speak,  but  only  echoes,  ‘ wo-wo- 
wo,  ’ without  any  real  words,  you  must  take  it.  Carry  it 
with  you,  and  tie  it  to  that  coco  tree.  Then  you  must  say 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


115 


to  the  Drum,  ‘Ngama!  speak  as  they  told  to  you!’”  So, 
Tortoise  went  on,  and  on,  to  the  House,  and  took  the  Drum, 
and,  carrying  it,  came  back  to  the  river  bank  where  the 
Woman  was.  She  said  to  him,  “You  must  first  try  to  learn 
how  to  use  it.  Beat  it!”  He  beat  it.  And,  a table  ap- 
peared with  all  kinds  of  food!  And,  when  he  had  eaten,  he 
said  to  the  Drum,  “Put  it  back ! ” And  the  table  disappeared. 

He  carried  the  Drum  with  him  clear  back  to  the  foot  of 
the  coco  tree.  He  tied  it  with  a rattan  to  the  tree,  and  then 
said  to  the  Drum,  “Ngama!  do  as  they  said!”  Instantly, 
the  Drum  set  out  a long  table,  and  put  on  all  sorts  of  food. 
Tortoise  felt  very  glad  and  happy  for  the  abundance  of  food. 
So  he  ate  and  ate,  and  was  satisfied.  Again  he  said,  “Ngama ! 
do  as  they  said!”  And  Drum  took  back  the  table  and  the 
food  to  itself  up  the  tree,  leaving  a little  food  at  the  foot;  and 
then  came  back  to  the  hand  of  Tortoise.  He  put  this  little 
food  in  his  traveling-bag,  and  gathered  from  the  ground  the 
coco-nuts  he  had  left  lying  there  in  the  morning,  and  started 
to  go  back  to  his  town.  He  stopped  at  a spot  a short  dis- 
tance in  the  rear  of  the  town.  So  delighted  was  he  with  his 
Drum  that  he  tested  it  again.  He  stood  it  up,  and  with  the 
palm  of  his  hand  struck  it,  tomu!  A table  at  once  stood 
there,  with  all  kinds  of  food.  Again  he  ate,  and  also  filled  his 
traveling-bag.  Then  he  said  to  a tree  that  was  standing  near 
by,  “Bend  down!”  It  bowed;  and  he  tied  the  Drum  to  its 
branch;  and  went  off  into  the  town.  The  coco-nuts  and  the 
mushrooms  he  handed  to  his  women  and  children.  After  he 
had  entered  his  house,  his  chief  wife  said  to  him,  “Where 
have  you  been  all  this  long  while  since  the  morning?”  He 
replied  evasively,  “I  went  wandering  clear  down  to  the 
beach  to  gather  coco-nuts.  And,  this  day  I saw  a very  fine 
thing.  You,  my  wife,  shall  see  it!”  Then  he  drew  out  the 
food  from  the  bag,  potatoes,  and  rice,  and  beef.  And  he 
said,  “The  while  that  we  eat  this  food,  no  one  must  show  any 
of  it  to  Nja,  ” So,  they  two,  and  his  other  wife  and  their 
family  of  children  ate. 

Soon  day  darkened;  and  they  all  went  to  go  to  sleep.  And 
soon  another  day  began  to  break.  At  day-break,  Tortoise 
started  to  go  off  to  the  place  where  was  the  Drum.  Arrived 
there,  he  went  to  the  tree,  and  said  to  the  Drum,  “Ngama! 
do  as  they  said!”  The  Drum  came  rapidly  down  to  the 


116 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


ground,  and  put  out  the  table  all  covered  with  food.  Tor- 
toise took  a part,  and  ate,  and  was  satisfied.  Then  he  also 
filled  the  bag.  Then  said  he  to  the  Drum,  “Do  as  you  did!” 
And  Drum  took  back  the  things,  and  went  up  the  tree.  On 
another  day,  at  day-break,  he  went  to  the  tree  and  did  the 
same  way. 

On  another  day,  as  he  was  going,  his  eldest  son,  curious  to 
find  out  where  his  father  obtained  so  much  food,  secretly 
followed  him.  Tortoise  went  to  where  the  Drum  was. 
The  child  hid  himself,  and  stood  still.  He  heard  his  father 
say  to  the  tree,  “Bend!”  And  its  top  bent  down.  The 
child  saw  the  whole  process,  as  Tortoise  took  the  Drum, 
stood  it  up,  and  with  the  palm  of  his  hand,  struck  it,  ve! 
saying,  “Do  as  you  have  been  told  to  do!”  At  once  a table 
stood  prepared,  at  which  Tortoise  sat  down  and  ate.  And 
then,  when  he  had  finished,  saying,  “Tree!  bend  down,”  it 
bent  over  for  Drum  to  be  tied  to  it.  He  returned  Drum  to 
the  branch;  and  the  tree  stood  erect. 

On  other  days,  Tortoise  came  to  the  tree,  and  did  the  same 
way,  eating;  and  returning  to  his  house;  on  all  such  occasions, 
bringing  food  for  his  family.  One  day,  the  son,  who  had 
seen  how  to  do  all  those  things,  came  to  the  tree,  and  said  to 
it,  “Bow  down.”  It  bowed;  and  he  did  as  his  father  had 
done.  So  Drum  spread  the  table.  The  child  ate,  and  fin- 
ished eating.  Then  said  he  to  Drum,  “Put  them  away f” 
And  the  table  disappeared.  Then  he  took  up  the  Drum, 
instead  of  fastening  it  to  the  tree,  and  secretly  carried  it  to 
town  to  his  own  house.  He  went  to  call  privately  his  brothers, 
and  his  father’s  women,  and  other  members  of  the  family. 
When  they  had  come  together  in  his  house,  at  his  command, 
the  Drum  did  as  usual;  and  they  ate.  And  when  he  said  to 
the  Drum,  “Put  away  the  things!”  it  put  them  away. 

Tortoise  came  that  day  from  the  forest  where  he  had  been 
searching  for  the  loved  mushrooms  for  his  family.  He  said 
to  himself,  “Before  going  into  the  town,  I will  first  go  to  the 
tree  to  eat.  ” As  he  approached  the  tree,  when  only  a short 
distance  from  it,  the  tree  was  standing  as  usual,  but  the 
Drum  was  not  there!  He  exclaimed,  “Truly,  now,  what  is 
this  joke  of  the  tree?”  As  he  neared  the  foot  of  the  tree, 
still  there  was  no  Drum  to  be  seen!  He  said  to  the  tree, 
“Bow  down!”  There  was  no  response!  He  passed  on  to 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


117 


the  town,  took  his  axe,  and  returned  at  once  to  the  tree,  in 
anger  saying,  “Lest  I cut  you  down,  bend!”  The  tree  stood 
still.  Tortoise  began  at  once  with  his  axe  chopping,  Ko! 
ko!  The  tree  fell,  toppling  to  the  ground,  tomu!  He  said 
to  it,  “You!  produce  the  Drum,  lest  I cut  you  in  pieces!” 
He  split  the  tree  all  into  pieces;  but  he  did  not  see  the  Drum. 
He  returned  to  the  town;  and,  as  he  went,  he  walked  anxiously 
saying  to  himself,  “Who  has  done  this  thing?”  When  he 
reached  his  house,  he  was  so  displeased  that  he  declined  to 
speak.  Then  his  eldest  son  came  to  him,  and  said,  “O!  my 
father!  why  is  it  that  you  are  silent  and  do  not  speak?  What 
have  you  done  in  the  forest?  What  is  it?”  He  replied, 
“I  don’t  want  to  talk.”  The  son  said,  “Ah!  my  father! 
you  wTere  satisfied  when  you  used  to  come  and  eat,  and  you 
brought  us  mushrooms.  I am  the  one  wdio  took  the  Drum.  ” 
Tortoise  said  to  him,  “My  child,  now  bring  out  to  us  the 
Drum.”  He  brought  it  out  of  an  inner  room.  Then  Tor- 
toise and  the  son  called  together  all  their  people  privately, 
and  assembled  them  in  the  house.  They  commanded  the 
Drum.  It  did  as  it  usually  did.  They  ate.  Their  little 
children  took  their  scraps  of  potatoes  and  meat  of  wild- 
animals,  and,  in  their  excitement,  forgot  orders,  and  went 
out  eating  their  food  in  the  open  street.  Other  children  saw 
them,  and  begged  of  them.  They  gave  to  them.  Among 
them  were  children  of  Leopard,  who  went  and  showed  the 
meat  to  their  father. 

All  suddenly,  Leopard  came  to  the  house  of  Tortoise,  and 
found  him  and  his  family  feasting.  Leopard  said,  “Ah! 
Chum!  you  have  done  me  evil.  You  are  eating;  and  I and 
my  family  are  dying  with  hunger!”  Tortoise  replied,  “Yes, 
not  today,  but  tomorrow  you  shall  eat.”  So,  Leopard  re- 
turned to  his  house. 

After  that,  the  day  darkened.  And  they  all  went  to  lie 
down  in  sleep.  Then,  the  next  day  broke. 

Early  in  the  morning,  Tortoise,  out  in  the  street,  announced, 
“From  my  house  to  Nja’s  there  will  be  no  strolling  into  the 
forest  today.  Today,  only  food.” 

Tortoise  then  went  off  by  himself  to  the  coco  tree  (whither 
he  had  secretly  during  the  night  carried  the  Drum).  Arrived 
at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  he  desired  to  test  whether  its  power 
had  been  lost  by  the  use  of  it  in  his  town.  So,  he  gave  the 


118 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


usual  orders;  and  they  were,  as  usually  obeyed.  Tortoise 
then  went  off  with  the  Drum,  carrying  it  openly  on  his 
shoulder,  into  the  town,  and  directly  to  the  house  of  Leopard, 
and  said  to  him,  “Call  all  your  people!  Let  them  come!” 
They  all  came  into  the  house;  and  the  people  of  Tortoise 
also.  He  gave  the  usual  commands.  At  once,  Drum  pro- 
duced abundance  of  food,  and  a table  for  it.  So,  they  all 
ate,  and  were  satisfied.  And  Drum  took  back  the  table  to 
itself.  Drum  remained  in  the  house  of  Leopard  for  about 
two  weeks.  It  ended  its  supply  of  food,  being  displeased  at 
Leopard’s  rough  usage  of  itself;  and  there  was  no  more  food. 
Leopard  went  to  Tortoise,  and  told  him,  “Drum  has  no  more 
food.  Go,  and  get  another.”  Tortoise  was  provoked  at 
the  abuse  of  his  Drum,  but  he  took  it,  and  hung  it  up  in  his 
house. 

At  this  time,  the  watchmen  heard  of  the  supply  of  food  at 
Leopard’s  house,  and  they  asked  him  about  it.  He  denied 
having  any.  They  asked  him,  “Where  then  did  you  get 
this  food  which  we  saw  your  children  eating?”  He  said, 
“From  the  children  of  Kudu.”  The  officers  went  at  once 
to  King  Maseni,  and  reported,  “We  saw  a person  who  has 
food.  ’ ’ He  inquired,  ‘ ‘ Who  is  he  ? ” They  replied,  ‘ ‘ Kudu.  ’ ’ 
The  King  ordered  “Go  ye,  and  summon  Kudu.”  They 
went  and  told  Tortoise,  “The  King  summons  you.”  Tor- 
toise asked,  “What  have  I done  to  the  King?  Since  the 
King  and  I have  been  living  in  this  country,  he  has  not 
summoned  me.”  Nevertheless,  he  obeyed  and  journeyed 
to  the  King’s  house.  The  King  said  to  him,  “You  are 
keeping  food,  while  all  the  Tribes  are  dying  of  hunger?  You ! 
bring  all  those  foods!”  Tortoise  replied,  “Please  excuse 
me!  I will  not  come  again  today  with  them.  But,  tomorrow, 
you  must  call  for  all  the  tribes.  ” 

The  next  morning,  the  King  had  his  bell  rung,  and  an  order 
announced,  “Any  person  whatever,  old  or  young,  come  to 
eat!”  The  whole  community  assembled  at  the  King’s 
house.  Tortoise  also  came  from  his  town,  holding  his  Drum 
in  his  hand.  The  distant  members  of  that  Tribe,  (not 
knowing  and  not  having  heard  what  that  Drum  had  been 
doing)  twitted  him,  “Is  it  for  a dance?” 

Entering  into  the  King’s  house,  Tortoise  stood  up  the 
Drum;  with  his  palm  he  struck  it,  ve!  saying,  “Let  every 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


119 


kind  of  food  appear!”  It  appeared.  The  town  was  like  a 
table,  covered  with  every  variety  of  food.  The  entire  com- 
munity ate,  and  were  satisfied;  and  they  dispersed.  Tor- 
toise took  the  Drum,  and  journeyed  back  to  his  town.  He 
spoke  to  his  hungry  family,  “Come  ye!”  They  came. 
They  struck  the  Drum;  it  was  motionless;  and  nothing  came 
from  it!  They  struck  it  again.  Silent!  (It  was  indignant 
at  having  been  used  by  other  hands  than  those  of  Tortoise.) 
So,  they  sat  down  with  hunger. 

The  next  day.  Tortoise  went  rapidly  off  to  the  coco  tree, 
climbed  it,  gathered  two  nuts,  threw  one  into  the  river, 
dropped  into  the  stream,  and  followed  the  nut  as  he  had  done 
before.  He  came  as  before  to  that  landing-place,  and  to  the 
Woman,  and  told  her  about  the  failure  of  the  Drum.  She 
told  him  that  she  knew  of  it,  and  directed  him  to  go  and  take 
another.  He  went  on  to  that  House,  and  to  those  People. 
And  they,  as  before,  asked  him,  “Kudu!  whither  goest 
thou?”  He  replied,  “You  know  I have  come  to  take  my 
coco-nut.”  But  they  said,  “No!  leave  the  nut,  and  take  a 
Drum.  ” And,  as  before,  they  advised  him  to  take  a silent 
one.  So,  he  came  to  the  House  of  Drums.  These  called  to 
him,  “Take  me!  take  me!”  Then,  he  thought  to  himself, 
“Yes!  I’ll  take  one  of  those  Drums  that  talk.  Perhaps 
they  will  have  even  better  things  than  the  other.  ” So,  he 
took  one,  and  came  out  of  the  House,  and  told  those  People 
“I  have  taken.  And,  now,  for  my  journey.” 

He  started  from  the  landing-place,  and  on  up  the  river, 
to  the  foot  of  the  coco-tree.  He  tied  the  Drum  to  the  tree 
with  a cord,  as  before,  set  it  up,  and  gave  it  a slap,  ve ! And 
a table  stood  there!  He  said,  “Ngama!  do  as  you  usually 
do!”  Instantly,  there  were  thrown  down  on  the  table, 
mbwa!  whips  instead  of  food.  Tortoise,  surprised,  said, 
“As  usual!”  The  Drum  picked  up  one  of  the  whips,  and 
beat  Tortoise,  ve!  He  cried  out  with  pain,  and  said  to  the 
Drum,  “But,  now  do  also  as  you  do.  Take  these  things 
away.  ” And  Drum  returned  the  table  and  whips  to  itself. 
Tortoise  regretfully  said  to  himself,  “Those  People  told  me 
not  to  take  a Drum  that  talked;  but  my  heart  deceived  me.  ” 
However,  a plan  occurred  to  him  by  which  to  obtain  a 
revenge  on  Leopard  and  the  King  for  the  trouble  he  had 
been  put  to. 


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So,  taking  up  the  Drum,  he  came  to  his  own  town,  and 
went  at  once  to  the  house  of  Leopard.  To  whom  he  said, 
“To-morrow  come  with  your  people  and  mine  to  the  town 
of  King  Maseni.”  Leopard  rejoiced  at  the  thought,  “This 
is  the  Drum  of  food ! ” 

Then  Tortoise  journeyed  to  the  King’s  town,  and  said, 
“I  have  found  food,  according  to  your  order.  Call  the 
people  tomorrow.  ” 

In  the  morning,  the  King’s  bell  was  rung,  and  his  people, 
accompanied  by  those  of  Tortoise  and  Leopard,  came  to  his 
house.  Tortoise  privately  spoke  to  his  own  people,  “No 
one  of  you  must  follow  me  into  the  house.  Remain  outside 
of  the  window.  ” 

Tortoise  said  to  the  King,  “The  food  of  today  must  be 
eaten  only  inside  of  your  house.”  So,  the  King’s  people, 
with  those  of  Leopard,  entered  into  the  house.  There,  Tor- 
toise said,  “We  shall  eat  this  food  only  if  all  the  doors  and 
windows  are  fastened.”  So,  they  were  fastened  (excepting 
one  which  Tortoise  kept  open  near  himself).  Then,  the 
Drum  was  sounded,  and  Tortoise  commanded  it,  “Do  as 
you  have  said.”  And,  the  tables  appeared.  But,  instead 
of  food,  were  whips.  The  people  wondered,  “Ah!  what  do 
these  mean?  Where  do  they  come  from?”  Tortoise  sta- 
tioned himself  by  the  open  window,  and  commanded  the 
Drum,  “As  usual!”  Instantly  the  whips  flew  about  the 
room,  lashing  everybody,  even  the  King,  and  especially 
Leopard.  The  thrashing  was  great,  and  Leopard  and  his 
people  were  crying  with  pain.  Their  bodies  were  injured, 
being  covered  with  cuts. 

But,  Tortoise  had  promptly  jumped  out  of  the  window. 
And,  standing  outside,  he  ordered,  “Ngama!  do  as  you  do!” 
And  the  whips  and  tables  returned  to  it,  and  the  whipping 
ceased.  But,  Tortoise  knew  that  the  angry  crowd  would 
try  to  seize  and  kill  him.  So,  taking  advantage  of  the  con- 
fusion in  the  house,  he  and  his  people  fled  to  the  water  of  the 
river,  and  scattered,  hiding  among  the  logs  and  roots  in  the 
stream.  As  he  was  disappearing,  Leopard  shouted  after 
him,  “You  and  I shall  not  see  each  other!  If  we  do,  it  will 
be  you  who  will  be  killed!” 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


121 


Tale  12 

The  Lies  of  Tortoise 
Persons 

Nja  (Leopard)  Embonda  (Prairie  Antelope) 

Kudu  (Tortoise)  Iheli  (Gazelle) 

Etoli  (Rat)  Ngando  (Crocodile) 

Ngomba  (Porcupine) 


NOTE 

African  natives  climb  the  palm-tree,  cut  out  a cavity  in 
the  heart  at  the  leafy  top,  and  fasten  a vessel  below  the 
cavity,  to  catch  the  sweet,  milky  juice  that  exudes.  This  is 
unintoxicating.  But,  like  cider,  it  becomes  intoxicating  if 
kept  a few  days.  The  cutting  destroys  the  tree  in  two  or 
three  months. 


The  beginning  of  this  tale  is  that  Leopard  went  to  the 
forest,  to  cut  an  itutu  tree  (bamboo-palm)  for  palm- wine. 
After  he  had  fastened  the  bowl  at  the  cavity  he  had  cut  at 
the  top  in  the  heart  of  the  tree,  then  he  came  back  to  town. 

Tortoise  came  along  to  that  palm- wine  tree;  and  he  climbed 
to  the  top.  There  he  found  that  the  sap  had  already  col- 
lected in  the  bowl.  And  he  drank  three  tumblerfuls.  Ex- 
cited by  his  success,  he  shouted  out  aloud,  “I’m  drunk!  I’m 
drunk!” 

Off  in  the  forest,  Wild  Rat  heard  his  voice,  and,  following 
the  sound,  came  to  the  place.  To  Tortoise,  Rat  said,  “ Whose 
wine-tree  is  this?”  Tortoise  replied,  “My  own!”  So,  Rat 
begged  of  him,  “Give  me  a glassful!”  Tortoise  told  him 
“Climb  up!  Of  what  are  you  afraid?”  So,  Rat  climbed 
up  the  tree.  He  also  drank  two  glassfuls. 

Presently,  Tortoise  heard  Leopard  coming,  and  he  said 
to  Rat.  “ Await  me  here,  I ’m  j ust  going  down  to  the  ground.  ” 


122 


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When  he  reached  the  ground,  Tortoise  hid  his  body  in  a hole 
at  the  base  of  the  tree. 

In  a very  little  while,  Leopard  arrived  at  the  tree.  He 
lifted  up  his  eyes  to  the  top  and  saw  Rat  there.  To  him 
Leopard  said,  “Who  owns  this  palm-tree?”  Rat  replied, 
“My  Chum,  Kudu.”  But,  Leopard  asked,  “This  Kudu, 
where  is  he?”  Then  Leopard  flung  one  of  his  claws  at  Rat. 
It  stuck  in  him,  and  Rat  fell  dead. 

Leopard  took  Rat’s  body  and  went  away  with  it  to  his 
town.  And  he  said  to  his  wife,  “ Cook  this;  this  is  our  meat.  ” 

Soon  after  Leopard  had  gone  from  the  tree,  Tortoise  came 
out  of  his  hiding,  and  climbed  the  tree  a second  time.  Then, 
having  drank  again,  he  shouted,  as  before,  “I’m  drunk!  I’m 
drunk!” 

In  his  hole  off  among  the  rocks,  Porcupine  heard  Tortoise 
shouting;  and  he  came  to  the  tree,  and  asked  for  a drink. 
Tortoise  told  him  to  climb;  adding,  “What  are  you  afraid 
of?  ” So,  Porcupine  followed  Tortoise  up  the  tree,  and  drank 
two  glassfuls  of  the  wine. 

Again  Tortoise  heard  Leopard  coming,  recognizing  the 
thud  of  his  steps  as  he  leaped  on  the  way.  So,  Tortoise 
cried  out,  as  if  in  pain,  “ O!  my  stomach  hurts  me!  I’m  going 
down!”  At  the  base,  he  hid  himself  again  in  the  cavity  of 
the  tree. 

In  a little  while,  Leopard  appeared  standing  at  the  foot 
of  the  tree.  Looking  up,  he  saw  Porcupine  there.  And  he 
inquired,  “Ngomba!  who  owns  this  tree?”  Porcupine 
answered,  “Chum  Kudu!”  Leopard  asked,  “This  Kudu, 
who  is  he?  I want  to  see  him.  ” Porcupine  replied,  “Kudu 
has  gone  off,  his  stomach  paining  him.”  Then  Leopard 
exclaimed,  “So!  indeed!  you  are  the  ones  who  use  up  all  my 
wine  here!”  And  he  added,  “What  day  I shall  meet  Kudu 
I do  not  know.  But,  that  day  we  will  meet  in  fight.” 
While  he  was  saying  all  this,  Tortoise,  in  the  hole  at  the  tree, 
heard. 

Then  Leopard  threw  a claw  at  Porcupine.  Porcupine 
fell  down  to  the  ground  a corpse.  Leopard  taking  it,  went 
away  with  it  to  his  town,  and  said  to  his  wife,  “Cook  this 
meat,  and  let  us  eat  it.  ” 

After  Leopard  had  left  the  tree,  Tortoise  emerged  from 
his  hiding-place.  He  climbed  the  tree  a third  time,  and 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


123 


took  a cup,  and  drank  two  glassfuls.  Again  he  shouted, 
“I,  Kudu,  I’m  drunk!  I,  Kudu,  I’m  drunk!” 

Out  on  a prairie,  Antelope  heard  the  shouting;  and  he  came 
to  the  tree.  Seeing  Tortoise,  he  said,  “Chum,  give  me  a 
glass  of  wine!”  Tortoise  directed  him,  “Climb  up!  Of 
what  are  you  afraid?”  So,  Antelope  went  up  the  tree,  and 
drank. 

Soon  Tortoise  heard  Leopard  coming,  bounding  through 
the  forest.  And  Tortoise  said  to  Antelope,  “ Chum ! my  bow- 
els pain  me;  I’ll  soon  return.”  He  descended,  and  hid  his 
body  as  before.  Leopard  arrived  as  before.  And  he  spoke 
to  Antelope;  and  then  killed  it  with  another  of  his  claws. 
He  took  its  carcass  to  his  town,  and  bade  his  wife  cook  it,  as 
had  been  done  with  the  others. 

After  Leopard  had  gone  from  the  tree,  Tortoise  climbed 
the  tree  a fourth  time,  again  he  drank;  and  again  he  shouted, 
changing  his  words  slightly,  “I’ve  drank!  I’ve  drank!” 

In  the  jungle,  Gazelle  heard,  and  came  to  the  base  of  the 
tree,  but  said  nothing.  Tortoise  spoke  first,  “ O ! my  nephew ! 
the  wine  is  finished ! ” Gazelle  asked,  “ Who  owns  this  tree  ? ” 
Tortoise  answered,  “It’s  my  own,  and  not  another’s.” 

When  he  came  from  the  jungle,  Gazelle  had  brought  with 
him  a bag.  As  Gazelle  still  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  tree. 
Tortoise  said  to  him,  “Come  up  here!  What  do  you  fear?” 
So,  Gazelle  climbed;  but  went  up  only  half-way. 

While  the  two  were  thus  apart,  and  before  Gazelle  had 
drunk  any  of  the  wine.  Tortoise  heard  Leopard  coming, 
leaping  through  the  bushes.  Then  Tortoise  said  to  Gazelle, 
“AJti!  nephew!  let  me  pass!  My  stomach  hurts  me!”  But 
Gazelle  said,  “No!  uncle,  let  us  stay  and  drink.”  Tortoise 
heard  Leopard  nearing  the  tree;  and  he  said  to  Gazelle,  “Ah! 
Hurry!  Let  me  pass!  How  my  stomach  hurts!”  Gazelle 
said,  “No!  uncle,  we’ll  go  down  together.” 

While  they  were  thus  talking,  Leopard  reached  the  foot 
of  the  tree.  Then  Gazelle  took  Tortoise  and  hid  him  in  the 
bag.  Leopard  exclaimed,  “Iheli!  who  owns  this  tree?” 
Gazelle  replied,  “This  is  the  palm- wine  tree  of  my  uncle.” 
Leopard  asked,  “Who  is  your  uncle?”  Gazelle  answered, 
“Kudu.” 

So,  Leopard  began  to  prepare  to  climb  the  tree,  in  order 
to  fight  with  Gazelle.  Then  Gazelle  put  his  hand  into  the 


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bag,  and  drew  out  Tortoise,  tightly  grasped  in  his  hand.  And 
he  flung  Tortoise  violently  into  Leopard’s  face.  Leopard 
fell  to  the  ground,  dazed  with  the  blow,  while  Gazelle  leaped 
to  the  ground,  and  fled  off  in  the  forest. 

When  Leopard  rose  from  the  earth,  he  found  Tortoise 
sprawling  helpless  on  its  back.  Leopard  tied  a string  to  him, 
and  went  away  with  him  to  town.  And  he  said  to  his  wife, 
“My  wife!  this  is  the  person  who  drinks  at  my  wine-tree!” 
So  he  suspended  him  by  the  string, waiting  to  kill  him  next  day. 

The  day  began  to  darken  towards  night;  and  they  went 
to  their  sleep. 

Then  came  the  daylight  of  next  morning. 

Leopard  said  to  his  wife,  “I’m  going  to  a palaver  (council) 
at  a place  three  miles  distant.  Take  Kudu  and  cook  him 
with  udika  (gravy  of  kernels  of  wild  mango).  When  I come 
back,  let  me  find  the  food  all  ready  to  be  eaten  at  once.  ” 

So,  Leopard  went  on  his  journey.  And  his  wife  remained 
to  do  her  work.  But,  she  exclaimed,  “Ah!  I forget  what  my 
husband  told  me!”  Tortoise,  overhearing  her  said,  “Your 
husband  said,  ‘Take  the  dried  Etoli  from  the  shelf,  and  cook 
it  with  udika;  give  it  to  Kudu,  and  let  him  eat  it;  and  then 
take  Kudu  and  wash  him  in  the  water  of  the  brook.  ’ ” The 
woman  gladly  listened,  and  said,  “Eh!  Kudu!  you  remember 
well  what  my  husband  said  to  me!” 

So,  she  did  about  the  food  as  Tortoise  had  reported,  and 
gave  it  to  him  to  eat.  When  Tortoise  had  finished  eating, 
the  woman  went  with  him  to  wash  him  in  the  water  at  the 
edge  of  the  brook.  While  she  was  doing  this,  Tortoise 
asked,  “Throw  me  off  into  the  water  where  it  is  deep.” 
The  woman  did  so.  And  Tortoise  shouted,  “So!  you  will 
die  this  day  by  your  husband’s  hands!”  The  woman  began 
to  see  her  mistake,  and  she  begged  Tortoise,  “Come!  let  us 
go  back  to  town. ” But  Tortoise  said,  “I  shan’t  come!  I’m 
here  safe  in  my  place  down  in  the  bottom  of  the  stream.  ” 
Then  the  woman  went  back  to  her  town;  and  as  she  went, 
she  went  crying. 

Late  in  the  day.  Leopard  returned  from  the  discussions 
of  the  Council.  And  he  said  to  his  wife,  “0!  my  wife!  I’m 
just  dying  of  hunger!”  She  told  him,  “Ah!  my  husband! 
Kudu  has  run  away!”  Leopard,  in  his  anger,  flung  a claw 
at  her;  and  she  died  on  the  spot. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


125 


Tortoise,  in  the  meanwhile,  went  as  fast  as  he  could  under 
the  water  of  the  stream.  And  he  came  to  the  house  of  Croc- 
odile, and  crept  into  the  doorway.  Crocodile,  in  tears, 
met  him  with  the  words,  “Ah!  Kudu!  I’m  just  dying  here 
with  grief  and  crying.”  Tortoise  asked  her,  “What  is  the 
matter? ” She  told  him,  “I’ve  laid  a hundred  eggs,  but  none 
of  them  had  children  in  them.”  Tortoise  replied,  “That’s 
my  work,  the  causing  of  eggs  to  have  children.  Shall  I do 
it?”  Crocodile  consented,  “Yes,  I’ve  here  three  hundred 
other  eggs;  you  may  make  them  have  children.”  Tortoise 
told  her,  “I’m  the  only  one  to  do  that  thing. ” So,  Crocodile 
said,  “Go  into  this  room,  and  do  it.” 

Tortoise  went  into  the  room,  found  the  eggs  there;  and 
said  to  Crocodile,  “Give  me  here  a kettle,  also  firewood  and 
water.  Give  me  my  food  here.  For,  I will  not  go  out  of  this 
house;  I will  go  out  only  at  the  time  when  I shall  have 
caused  the  eggs  to  have  children.”  Crocodile  agreed,  say- 
ing, “Yes,  I am  willing.  It  is  well.”  And  she  gave  direc- 
tion to  her  people,  “Give  Kudu  all  the  things  he  has  asked 
for  there.  ” 

Then  Tortoise  locked  all  the  doors,  and  stayed  inside  the 
room.  He  began  to  arrange  the  fire-wood,  and  set  the 
kettle  and  put  water  in  it.  In  the  afternoon,  he  took  twenty 
eggs,  and  cooked,  and  ate  them  with  his  food. 

At  night,  all  went  to  sleep. 

At  daybreak,  he  cooked  twenty  more  eggs,  and  ate  them; 
at  noon  he  cooked  and  ate  more;  and  at  evening  supper,  he 
cooked  and  ate  some  more.  So,  he  spent  about  seven  days 
in  eating  all  the  eggs.  Then  he  called  out  to  Crocodile 
“Do  you  want  to  hear  the  little  crocodiles  talk?”  Crocodile 
replied,  “Yes!  I want  to  hear!”  Tortoise  took  two  pieces 
of  broken  plates,  and  scraped  one  across  the  other,  making 
a rasping  sound.  Crocodile  and  the  people  of  the  town 
heard  the  squeaking  sounds,  and  they  exclaimed  in  joy. 
“So!  So,  So!”  They  replied  to  Tortoise,  “We  hear  the 
little  ones  talking!”  Tortoise  also  told  them,  “Tomorrow, 
then,  I will  make  a Medicine  to  cause  them  to  talk  loudly.  ” 
But  Crocodile  began  to  have  some  doubts.  And  day  dark- 
ened to  night. 

Very  early  in  the  next  morning,  Crocodile’s  doubts  having 
increased,  she  rose  up  without  calling  her  people.  And  she 


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went  slowly  alone  to  peep  through  a crack  into  the  room  of 
Tortoise.  She  saw  only  the  piles  of  egg-shells;  and  she 
wondered,  “Where  are  the  little  ones?”  Then  she  went 
softly  back  to  her  own  room;  and  she  told  the  townspeople, 
“ Get  up ! Let  us  open  the  room  of  Kudu ! ” 

They  all  got  up,  and  they  went  to  the  house.  They  broke 
the  room  door  by  force;  and  they  found  Tortoise  sitting 
among  the  scattered  shells  of  the  eggs.  The  Crocodile 
exclaimed,  “Kudu!  have  you  deceived  me?  Your  life  too 
ends  today!” 

They  tied  Tortoise,  and  put  him  in  the  kettle;  and  they 
killed  him  there.  They  divided  his  flesh  onto  their  plates. 
And  Crocodile  and  her  people  ate  Tortoise. 

This  is  the  end  of  the  lies  of  Tortoise. 


TALE  13 

“Death  Begins  by  Some  One  Person”:  A Proverb 

Persons 

Ka  (A  Very  Big  Snail)  Lonani  (Birds) 

Ngambi  (Igwana)  Kema  (Monkeys) 

Kudu  (Tortoise)  A Man 


NOTE 

Trouble  came  to  all  these  animals,  even  to  the  innocent, 
through  the  noise  of  some  of  them.  Igwanas  are  supposed, 
by  the  natives,  to  be  deaf. 


Snail,  Igwana  and  Tortoise  all  lived  together  in  one  vil- 
lage. One  day,  Tortoise  went  to  roam  in  the  forest.  There 
he  found  a large  tree  called  Evenga.  He  said  to  himself,  “I 
will  stay  at  the  foot  of  this  tree,  and  wait  for  the  fruit  to 
fall.  ” During  two  days,  he  remained  there  alone. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


127 


On  the  third  day,  Igwana  said  to  Snail,  “I  must  go  and 
search  for  our  Chum  Kudu,  wherever  he  is.”  So,  Igwana 
went;  and  he  found  Tortoise  in  a hole  at  the  foot  of  that 
tree.  Igwana  said  to  him,  “Chum!  for  two  days  I haven’t 
seen  you!”  Tortoise  replied,  “I  shan’t  go  back  to  the 
village;  I will  remain  here.”  Then  Igwana  said  to  him, 
“Well,  then;  let  us  sit  here  together  in  the  same  spot.” 
Tortoise  objected,  “No!”  So  Igwana  climbed  up  the  trunk 
a very  short  distance,  and  clung  there. 

After  two  days.  Snail,  who  had  been  left  alone,  said  to 
himself,  “I  must  follow  my  friends,  and  find  where  they 
are. 

So,  Snail  journeyed,  and  found  Tortoise  and  Igwana  there 
at  that  tree.  Looking  at  the  tree,  he  exclaimed,  “Ah!  what 
a fine  tree  under  which  to  sit!”  The  others  replied,  “Yes; 
stay  here!”  So  Snail  said  to  Igwana,  “I  will  stay  near  you, 
Chum  Ngambi,  where  you  are.”  But  Igwana  objected, 
“No!” 

There  was  a vine  hanging  down  from  the  treetop  to  the 
ground,  and  Snail  climbed  up  the  vine.  Thus  the  three 
friends  were  arranged;  Tortoise  in  the  hole  at  the  foot  of 
the  tree,  Igwana  up  the  trunk  a short  way,  and  Snail  on  the 
vine  half-way  to  the  top. 

Igwana  held  on  where  he  was,  close  to  the  bark  of  the  tree. 
He  was  partly  deaf,  and  did  not  hear  well. 

After  two  days,  the  tree  put  forth  a great  abundance  of 
fruit.  The  fruit  all  ripened.  Very  many  small  Birds  came 
to  the  tree-top  to  eat  the  fruit.  And  very  many  small  Mon- 
keys too,  at  the  top.  Also  big  monkeys.  And  also  big 
birds.  All  crowded  at  the  top.  They  all  began  to  eat  the 
fruit.  As  they  ate,  they  played,  and  made  a great  deal  of 
noise. 

Tortoise  hearing  this  noise,  and  dreading  that  it  might 
attract  the  notice  of  some  enemy,  called  to  Igwana,  “Ngambi! 
tell  Ka  to  say  to  those  people  there  at  the  top  of  the  tree,  to 
eat  quietly,  and  not  with  so  much  noise.  ” 

Tortoise  himself  did  not  call  to  Snail,  lest  his  shout  should 
add  to  the  noise.  He  only  spoke  in  a low  voice  to  Igwana. 
But,  to  confirm  his  words,  he  quoted  a proverb,  “Iwedo  a 
yalakendi  na  moto  umbaka”  (death  begins  by  one  person). 
This  meant  that  they  all  should  be  watchful,  lest  Danger 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


come  to  them  all  by  the  indiscretion  of  a few.  But  Igwana 
did  not  hear;  and  was  silent. 

Tortoise  called  again,  “Ngambi!  tell  Ka  to  tell  those 
people  to  eat  quietly,  and  without  noise.”  Igwana  was 
silent,  and  made  no  answer.  A third  and  a fourth  time, 
Tortoise  called  out  thus  to  Igwana;  but  he  did  not  hear.  So, 
Tortoise  said  to  himself,  “I  won’t  say  any  more!” 

A man  from  Njambo’s  Town  had  gone  out  to  hunt,  having 
with  him  bow  and  arrow,  a machete,  and  a gun.  In  his 
wandering,  he  happened  to  come  to  that  tree.  Hearing  the 
noise  of  voices,  he  looked  up  and  saw  the  many  monkeys 
and  birds  on  the  tree.  He  exclaimed  to  himself,  “Ah!  how 
very  many  on  one  tree,  more  than  I have  ever  seen!” 

He  shot  his  arrow;  and  three  monkeys  fell.  He  fired  his 
gun,  and  killed  seven  birds.  Then  the  Birds  and  the  Monkeys 
all  scattered  and  fled  in  fear.  The  Man  also  looked  at  the 
foot  of  the  tree,  and  saw  Tortoise  in  the  hole.  He  drew  him 
out,  and  thrust  him  into  his  hunting-bag.  Then  he  looked 
on  the  other  side  of  the  tree,  and  saw  Igwana  within  reach. 
He  rejoiced  in  his  success,  “Oh!  Igwana  here  too!”  He 
struck  him  with  the  machete;  and  Igwana  died. 

Observing  the  vine,  the  Man  gave  it  a pull.  And  down 
fell  Snail!  The  Man  exclaimed,  “So!  this  is  Snail!” 

As  the  Man  started  hbmeward  carrying  his  load  of  animals, 
Tortoise  in  the  bag,  mourning  over  his  fate,  said  to  the  dead 
Igwana  and  the  others,  “I  told  you  to  call  to  Ka  to  warn 
Kema  and  Lonani;  and,  now  death  has  come  to  us  all!  If 
you,  Kema  and  Lonani,  in  the  beginning,  on  the  tree-top, 
had  not  made  such  a noise,  Man  would  not  have  come  to 
kill  us.  This  all  comes  from  you.” 

And  Man  took  all  these  animals  to  his  town,  and  divided 
them  among  his  people. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


129 


TALE  14 

Tortoise  and  the  Bojabi  Tree 


Place 

Country  of  All-The-Beasts 
Persons 


Mbam£  (Boa  Constrictor)  Njaku  (Elephant) 

Kudu  (Tortoise)  Iheli  (Gazelle)* 

Etoli  (House  Rat)  Ngomba  (Porcupine) 

Vyadu  (Antelope)  Nyati  (Ox) 

And  the  Bojabi  Tree 


NOTE 

African  natives  hesitate  to  eat  of  an  unknown  fruit  or 
vegetable,  unless  they  see  it  first  partaken  of  by  some  lower 
animal. 


All  the  tribes  of  Beasts  were  living  in  one  region,  except 
one  beast,  which  was  staying  in  its  separate  place.  Its 
name  was  Boa  Constrictor.  His  place  was  about  thirty  miles 
away  from  the  others. 

In  the  region  of  all  those  Beasts,  there  was  a very  large 
tree.  Its  name  was  Bojabi.  But  none  of  those  beasts  knew 
that  that  was  its  name. 

There  fell  a great  famine  on  that  Country-of-all-the-Beasts. 
In  their  search  for  food,  they  looked  at  that  tree;  and  they 
said,  “This  tree  has  fine-looking  fruit;  but,  we  do  not  know 
its  name.  How  then  shall  we  know  whether  it  is  fit  to  be 
eaten?”  After  some  discussion,  they  said,  “We  think  our 
Father  Mbaimi  will  be  able  to  know  this  tree’s  name.”  So 
they  agreed,  “Let  us  send  a person  to  Mbama  to  cause  us 
to  know  the  name  of  the  tree.”  They  selected  Rat,  and 


130 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


said  to  him,  “You,  Etoli,  are  young;  go  you,  and  inquire.” 
They  also  decided  that,  “Whoever  goes  shall  not  go  by  land 
along  the  beach,  but  by  sea.”  (This  they  said,  in  order  to 
prove  the  messenger’s  strength  and  perseverance;  whether 
he  would  dally  by  the  way  ashore,  or  paddle  steadily  by  sea.) 
Also,  they  told  Rat  that,  in  going,  he  should  take  one  of  the 
fruits  of  the  tree  in  his  hand,  so  that  Boa  might  know  it. 
So,  Rat  took  the  Bojabi  fruit,  stepped  into  a canoe,  and 
began  to  paddle.  He  started  about  sun-rise  in  the  morning. 
In  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  he  arrived  at  his  journey’s 
end. 

He  entered  into  the  reception-room  of  Boa’s  house,  and 
found  him  sitting  there.  Boa  welcomed  him,  and  said  to 
his  wife,  “Prepare  food  for  our  guest,  Etoli!”  And  he  said 
to  Rat,  “Stranger!  eat!  And  then  you  will  tell  me  what  is 
the  message  you  have  brought.  ” 

Rat  ate  and  finished,  and  began  to  tell  his  message  thus : — 
He  said,  “In  our  country  we  have  nothing  there  but  hunger. 
But  there  is  there  a tree,  and  this  is  its  fruit.  Whether  it  is 
fit  to  be  eaten  or  not,  you  will  tell  us.”  Boa  replied,  “That 
tree  is  Bojabi;  this  fruit  is  Njabi;  and  it  is  to  be  eaten.” 
Then  the  day  darkened  to  night.  And  they  slept  their 
sleep. 

And  then  the  next  day  broke. 

And  Boa  said  to  Rat,  “Begin  your  journey,  Etoli!  The 
name  of  the  tree  is  Bojabi.  Do  not  forget  it!” 

Rat  stepped  into  his  canoe,  and  began  to  paddle.  He 
reached  his  country  late  in  the  afternoon.  He  landed. 
And  he  remained  a little  while  on  the  beach,  dragging  the 
canoe  ashore.  So  occupied  was  he  in  doing  this,  that  he 
forgot  the  tree’s  name.  Then  he  went  up  into  the  town. 
The  tribes  of  All-the-Beasts  met  him,  exclaiming,  “Tell  us! 
tell  us!”  Rat  confessed,  “I  have  forgotten  the  name  just 
this  very  now.”  Then,  in  their  disappointment,  they  all 
beat  him. 

On  another  day,  they  said  to  Porcupine,  “Ngomba!  go 
you!”  But  they  warned  Rat,  “If  Ngomba  brings  the  name, 
you,  Etoli,  shall  not  eat  of  the  fruit.” 

Porcupine  made  his  journey  also  by  sea,  and  came  to  the 
town  of  Boa.  When  Porcupine  had  stated  his  errand,  Boa 
told  him,  “The  tree’s  name  is  Bojabi.  Now,  go!” 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


131 


Porcupine  returned  by  sea,  and  kept  the  name  in  his 
memory,  until  he  was  actually  entering  the  town  of  his 
home;  and,  then,  he  suddenly  forgot  it.  The  tribes  of  All- 
the-Beasts  called  out  to  him,  as  they  saw  him  coming, 
“Ngomba!  tell  us!  tell  us!”  When  he  informed  them  that 
he  had  forgotten  it,  they  beat  him,  as  they  had  done  to  Rat. 

They  had  also  in  that  country,  another  plant  which  was 
thought  not  proper  to  be  eaten.  They  did  not  know  that 
its  leaves  were  really  good  for  food. 

On  another  day,  they  said  to  Antelope,  “Go  you;  and  tell 
Mbama,  and  ask  him  which  shall  we  eat,  this  fruit  or  these 
leaves.  What  shall  we  Beasts  do?” 

Antelope  went  by  sea;  and  came  to  Boa’s  town.  And  he 
asked  Boa,  “What  do  you  here  eat?  Tell  us. ” Boa  replied, 
“I  eat  leaves  of  the  plants,  and  I drink  water;  that  is  all  I 
do.  And  the  name  of  the  tree  that  bears  that  fruit  is  Bojabi. 
You,  all  the  Beasts,  what  are  you  to  eat?  I have  told  you.” 
Antelope  slept  there  that  night.  And  the  next  day,  he 
started  on  his  return  journey.  At  his  journey’s  end,  as  he 
was  about  to  land  on  the  beach,  a wave  upset  the  canoe, 
and  he  fell  into  the  sea.  In  the  excitement,  he  forgot  the 
name.  The  anxious  tribes  of  All-the-Beasts  had  comedown 
to  the  beach  to  meet  him,  and  were  asking,  “What  is  the 
name?  Tell  us!”  He  replied,  “Had  I not  fallen  into  the 
water,  I would  not  have  forgotten  the  name.  ” Then,  in  their 
anger,  they  beat  him. 

Almost  all  the  beasts  were  thus  tried  for  that  journey; 
and  they  all  failed  in  the  same  way,  with  the  name  forgotten, 
even  the  big  beasts  like  Ox  and  Elephant.  There  was  no 
one  of  them  who  had  succeeded  in  bringing  home  the  name. 

But  there  was  left  still,  one  who  had  not  been  tried.  That 
was  Tortoise.  So,  he  said,  “Let  me  try  to  go.”  They  were 
all  vexed  with  him,  at  what  they  thought  his  audacity  and 
presumption.  They  began  to  beat  him,  saying,  “Even  the 
less  for  us,  and  more  so  for  you!  You  will  not  be  able!” 
But  Gazelle  interposed,  saying,  “Let  Kudu  alone!  Why  do 
you  beat  him?  Let  him  go  on  the  errand.  We  all  have 
failed;  and  it  is  well  that  he  should  fail  too.” 

Tortoise  went  to  his  mother’s  hut,  and  said  to  her,  “I’m 
going!  How  shall  I do  it?”  His  mother  told  him,  “In 
your  going  on  this  journey,  do  not  drink  any  water  while  at 


132 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


sea,  only  while  ashore.  Also,  do  not  eat  any  food  on  the 
way,  but  only  in  the  town.  Do  not  perform  any  call  of 
Nature  at  sea,  only  ashore.  For,  if  you  do  any  of  these 
things  on  the  way,  you  will  be  unable  to  return  with  the 
name.  For,  all  those  who  did  these  things  on  the  way, 
forgot  the  name.”  So  Tortoise  promised,  “Yes,  my  mother, 
I shall  not  do  them.” 

On  another  day,  Tortoise  began  his  journey  to  Boa,  early. 
He  paddled  and  he  paddled,  not  stopping  to  eat  or  drink, 
until  he  had  gone  about  two-thirds  of  the  way.  Then  hunger 
and  thirst  and  calls  of  Nature  seized  him.  But  he  restrained 
himself,  and  went  on  paddling  harder  and  faster.  These 
feelings  had  seized  him  about  noon;  and  they  ceased  an  hour 
later.  He  continued  the  journey;  and,  before  four  o’clock 
in  the  afternoon,  had  arrived  at  Boa’s.  There  Tortoise 
entered  Boa’s  house,  and  found  him  sitting.  Boa  saluted, 
and  said,  “Legs  rest;  but  the  mouth  will  not.  Wife!  bring 
food  for  Kudu!”  The  wife  brought  food,  and  Tortoise  ate. 

Then  Boa  said  to  Tortoise,  “Tell  me  what  the  journey  is 
about.”  Tortoise  told  him,  “A  great  hunger  is  in  our  place. 
There  also  we  have  two  plants;  the  one, — this  is  its  fruit; 
and  this  grass, — the  leaves.  Are  they  eaten?”  Boa  replied, 
“The  tree  of  this  fruit,  its  name  is  Bojabi;  and  it  is  eaten. 
But,  I,  Mbama,  here,  I eat  leaves  and  drink  water;  and  that 
is  enough  for  me.  These  things  are  the  food  for  All-us 
Beasts.  We  have  no  other  food.  Go  and  tell  All-the- 
Beasts  so.”  Tortoise  replied,  “Yes;  it  is  well.” 

Then  the  day  darkened,  and  they  slept. 

And  another  day  came.  And  Tortoise  began  his  journey 
of  return  to  his  home.  As  he  went,  he  sang  this  song,  to  help 
remember  the  name: — “Njaku!  Jaka  Njabi.  De!  De! 
De!”  (Elephant!  eat  the  Bojabi  fruit.  Straight!  Straight! 
Straight!)  The  chorus  was  “Bojabi,”  And,  in  each  repeti- 
tion of  the  line,  he  changed  the  name  of  the  animal,  thus: — 
Nyati!  jaka  njabi.  De!  De!  De.  Bojabi”  (Ox!  eat  the 
Bojabi  fruit.  Straight!  straight!  straight!  Bojabi!) 

He  thus  nerved  himself  to  keep  straight  on  in  his  journey. 
And,  as  he  went,  he  kept  repeating  the  chorus.  “Bojabi, 
bojabi!  bojabi!” 

He  had  gone  about  one-third  of  the  way,  when  a large 
wave  came  and  upset  the  canoe,  and  threw  him,  pwim!  into 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


133 


the  water.  He  clung  to  the  canoe,  and  the  wave  carried  it 
and  him  clear  ashore,  he  still  repeating  the  word,  “Bojabi! 
bojabi!”  Ashore,  he  began  to  mend  the  canoe;  but,  all  the 
while,  he  continued  singing,  “Bojabi!”  When  he  had  re- 
paired the  canoe,  he  started  the  journey  again,  and  went  on 
his  way,  still  crying  out,  “Bojabi!” 

By  that  time,  All-the-Beasts  had  gathered  on  the  beach 
to  wait  the  coming  of  Tortoise.  He  came  on  and  on,  through 
the  surf  near  to  the  landing-place  of  the  town.  As  he  was 
about  to  land,  a great  wave  caught  him,  njim!  and  the 
canoe.  But,  he  still  was  shouting,  “Bojabi!”  Though 
All-the-Beasts  heard  the  word,  they  did  not  know  what  it 
meant,  or  why  Tortoise  was  saying  it.  They  ran  into  the 
surf,  and  carried  the  canoe  and  Tortoise  himself  up  to  the 
top  of  the  beach.  And  they,  all  in  a hurry,  begged,  “Tell  us !” 
He  replied,  “I  will  tell  you  only  when  in  the  town.”  In 
gladness,  they  carried  him  on  their  shoulders  up  into  the 
town.  Then  he  said,  “ Before  I tell  you,  let  me  take  my  share 
of  these  fruits  lying  out  there  in  the  yard.”  They  agreed; 
and  he  carried  a large  number,  hundreds  of  them,  into  his 
house.  Then  he  stated,  “Mbama  said,  ‘Its  name  is  Bojabi.’ 
And  All-the-Beasts  shouted  in  unison,  “Yes!  Bojabi!” 
Then  they  all  began  to  scramble  with  each  other  in  gather- 
ing the  fruit;  so  that  Tortoise  would  have  been  unable  to 
get  any,  had  he  not  first  taken  his  share  to  his  mother,  whose 
advice  had  brought  him  success. 

He  also  reported  to  them,  “Mbama  told  me  to  tell  you 
that  himself  eats  leaves  and  grass,  and  drinks  water,  and  is 
satisfied.  For,  that  is  the  food  of  All-the-Beasts.” 

Had  it  not  been  for  Boa,  the  Beasts  would  not  have  known 
about  eating  leaves.  But,  though  that  is  so,  the  diligence 
and  skill,  in  this  affair,  was  of  Tortoise. 

So,  All-the-Beasts  agreed: — “We  shall  have  two  Kings, 
Kudu  and  Mbama,  each  at  his  end  of  the  country.  For, 
the  one  with  his  wisdom  told  what  was  fit  to  be  eaten;  and, 
the  other,  with  his  skill,  brought  the  news.  ” 


134 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


TALE  15 

The  Suitors  of  Njambo’s  Daughter 
Place 

In  Njambo’s  Town 
Persons 

Njambo  and  His  Daughter 
Ndenga 

Etoli  (House  Rat) 

Nja  (Leopard) 


NOTE 

Africans  cut  down  trees,  not  at  the  base,  but  some  12  or 
20  feet  up  where  the  diameter  is  less.  They  sit  in  the  circle 
of  a rope  enclosing  the  tree  and  their  own  body,  the  rope 
resting  against  their  backbone  at  the  loins,  and  their  feet 
braced  against  the  tree  trunk. 

The  reason  why  Tortoise  lives  in  brooks  is  his  fear  of 
Leopard. 


Ko  (Forest  Rat) 
Nyati  (Ox) 

Kudu  (Tortoise) 
Njaku  (Elephant) 


All  the  Beasts  were  living  long  ago  in  one  place,  separate 
from  the  towns  of  Mankind;  but  they  had  friendship  for 
and  married  with  each  other. 

Among  the  towns  of  Mankind  was  living  a man  named 
Njambo.  There  was  born  to  him  a female  child  named 
Ndenga.  In  the  town,  at  one  end  of  it,  there  was  a very 
large  tree. 

Njambo  said  of  his  daughter,  “This  child  shall  be  married 
only  with  Beasts.”  So  when  the  Beasts  heard  of  that 
one  of  them,  House-Rat,  said,  “I’m  going  to  marry  that 
woman!”  So  he  went  to  the  father  to  arrange  what  things 
he  should  pay  on  the  dowry.  Njambo  said  to  him,  “I  do 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


135 


not  want  goods.  But,  if  any  one  shall  be  able  to  hew  down 
this  tree,  he  shall  marry  my  child.” 

At  once,  Rat  took  the  axe  that  Njambo  handed  him,  and 
began  to  hack  at  the  Tree.  He  tried  and  tried,  but  was  not 
able  to  make  the  axe  enter  at  all.  At  last,  he  wearied  of 
trying  and  stopped.  He  said  to  himself,  “If  I go  to  Njambo, 
and  tell  him  I am  unable  to  do  the  task,  he  will  kill  me.” 
So,  he  left  the  axe,  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  and  fled  to  his 
town. 

Njambo  waited  a while,  but  seeing  no  signs  of  Rat’s  com- 
ing to  him  to  report,  himself  came  to  the  Tree,  and  found 
only  the  axe,  but  saw  no  person.  He  took  up  the  axe,  and 
went  with  it  back  to  his  house. 

Off  in  the  Forest,  all-Beasts  saw  Rat  returning,  and  were 
surprised  that  he  came  alone.  They  asked  him,  “Where  is 
the  woman?”  Rat  answered,  “I  wearied  of  trying  to  get 
the  woman,  by  reason  of  the  greatness  of  the  task  of  cutting 
down  a tree.  So,  I gave  up  the  work,  and  fled,  and  have 
come  home.  ” 

Then  all  the  Beasts  derided  him,  saying,  “You  like  to  live 
in  another  person’s  house,  and  scramble  around,  and  nibble 
at  other  people’s  food,  but  you  are  not  able  to  marry  a wife!” 

Then  Forest-Rat  said,  “I  will  marry  that  woman ! ” So 
he  went  to  Njambo  for  the  marriage,  and  came  to  the  town. 
Njambo  said  to  him,  “I  do  not  object  to  anybody  for  the 
marriage,  but,  I will  only  test  you  by  that  Tree  off  yonder. 
If  you  are  willing  to  hew  the  Tree,  you  may  marry  this 
woman!” 

This  Forest-Rat  replied,  “Yes!  I shall  wait  here  today; 
and  will  cut  down  the  Tree  early  tomorrow  morning.”  That 
day  darkened.  And  Njambo’s  people  cooked  food  for 
Forest-Rat  as  their  guest.  They  all  ate;  and  then  they 
went  to  he  down  to  sleep. 

Then  after  awhile,  the  light  of  another  day  began  to  break. 

They  arose.  And  they  gave  Forest-Rat  an  axe.  He 
took  it,  and  went  to  the  foot  of  the  Tree.  He  fastened  two 
cords,  with  which  to  climb  up  to  where  the  Tree  was  at  half 
its  thickness.  There  he  tried  to  cut  the  Tree.  But  he  was 
unable  to  cut  away  even  the  smallest  chip.  At  last  he 
exclaimed,  “Ah!  brother  Etoli  is  justified!  I am  not  able  to 
cut  this  tree,  because  of  its  hardness.” 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


So,  he  came  down  the  Tree,  and  left  the  axe  at  the  foot, 
saying,  “If  I go  back  to  the  house  of  this  Man,  he  will  kill 
me.  No!  I am  fleeing.  ” 

When  he  arrived  at  his  town,  the  other  people  asked  him, 
“Where’s  the  woman?”  He  answered,  “The  woman  is  a 
thing  easy  to  marry,  but  the  Tree  was  a hard  thing  to  cut.  ” 

After  waiting  awhile  for  the  Forest-Rat,  Njambo  came  to 
the  foot  of  the  Tree;  and,  seeing  the  axe  lying,  took  it,  and 
w^ent  with  it  to  his  House. 

Then  Leopard  tried  for  the  woman;  and  failed  in  the  same 
way  as  the  two  who  preceded  him. 

Next,  Elephant  tried,  and  failed  in  the  same  way. 

So  did  Ox  in  the  same  way. 

And  all  the  other  Beasts,  one  after  another,  in  the  same 
way,  wearied  of  the  task  for  obtaining  this  woman. 

But,  there  was  left  still  one  Beast,  Tortoise,  that  had  not 
made  the  attempt  at  the  marriage.  He  stood  up,  and  said, 
“ I will  go;  and  I shall  marry  that  woman  at  Njambo’s  town ! ” 
Ox  heard  Tortoise  say  that;  and  struck  him,  saying,  “Why! 
even  more  so  we;  and  the  less  so  you,  to  attempt  to  obtain 
her!”  But  Elephant  said  to  Ox,  “Let  Kudu  alone!  Let 
us  see  him  marry  the  woman!” 

So,  Tortoise  made  his  journey  to  Njambo’s  town,  and 
came  there  late  in  the  afternoon.  He  said  to  Njambo,  “I 
have  come  to  marry  your  child.”  Njambo  replied,  “Well! 
let  it  be  so!” 

Tortoise  said  to  Njambo,  “First,  call  your  daughter,  to 
see  if  she  shall  like  me.”  When  she  entered  the  room, 
Tortoise  asked  her,  “Do  you  love  me?”  She  answered, 
“Yes!  I love  you  with  all  my  heart.”  This  made  Tortoise 
glad;  for  the  woman  was  very  beautiful  to  look  upon.  Then 
Njambo  told  him,  “Kudu,  I want  no  goods  for  her;  only 
the  cutting  of  the  Tree.”  Tortoise  assented,  “Yes!  I will 
try.” 

So  they  all  went  to  sleep  that  night. 

And  then  the  next  day  broke. 

An  hour  after  sunrise,  Njambo  called  Tortoise,  and, 
showing  him  the  axe,  said,  “This  is  the  axe  for  the  tree.” 
Tortoise  took  the  axe,  and  went  to  the  foot  of  the  Tree.  He 
looked  at  its  sides  closely,  and  saw  there  was  a difference  in 
them.  He  also  looked  very  steadily  at  the  top  of  the  tree. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


137 


Then  he  took  rattan  ropes,  and  mounted  to  the  middle  of 
the  thickness  of  the  Tree.  He  chose  also  the  side  opposite 
that  at  which  the  others  had  cut.  He  found  it  soft  when  he 
began  to  cut;  and,  at  once  the  chips  began  to  fall  to  the 
ground.  He  had  begun  the  chopping  early,  and  by  the 
middle  of  the  morning,  the  Tree  began  to  fall.  And  it  fell 
to  the  ground  with  a great  crash,  nji-i! 

Njambo  heard  the  fall  of  the  tree,  and  he  came  to  see  it. 
And  he  said  to  Tortoise,  “You  have  done  well,  because  you 
have  cut  down  the  Tree.  But,  finish  the  job  by  cutting 
off  the  top  end  with  its  branches.  That  will  leave  the  trunk 
clear.”  Tortoise  asked  Njambo,  “What  will  you  do  with 
the  log?”  Njambo  answered  him,  “To  make  a canoe.” 

So,  Tortoise  cut  off  also  the  end  of  the  Tree  with  its 
branches. 

Then  Njambo  told  him,  “Come  on,  into  the  town,  to 
take  your  wife;  because  you  have  cut  down  the  tree;  that 
is  the  price  I asked.”  The  two  came  to  the  house  in  the 
town;  and  Njambo  brought  his  daughter  to  Tortoise,  saying, 
“This  is  your  wife.  And  I give  with  the  woman  these  other 
things.”  Those  things  were  only  different  kinds  of  food. 

Tortoise  made  his  journey  with  his  wife  towards  his  town. 
He  journeyed,  going,  going  on,  until  he  had  reached  half  of 
the  way.  Then  he  said  to  his  wife,  “What  shall  I do?  For. 
Nja  is  ahead  in  the  way?”  The  wife  replied,  “No!  go  on! 
I think  Nja  will  do  nothing  to  us.  ” 

Shortly  afterward,  they  met  with  Leopard  in  the  path. 
Leopard  said  to  Tortoise,  “Ah!  Chum!  this  wife  is  not  proper 
for  you  to  marry,  only  with  me,  Nja. ” Tortoise  said  “No!” 
But  Leopard  insisted,  “No!  I take  this  one!  I will  give  you 
another  wife  in  her  place.”  So,  he  snatched  the  woman 
from  Tortoise,  and  ran  away  with  her  to  his  town. 

Tortoise  went  on  his  way,  as  he  went,  crying,  till  he  came 
to  his  own  village.  There  Elephant  asked  him,  “Why  do 
you  cry  as  you  go?  Has  Njambo  struck  you  about  the 
affair  of  the  marriage?  For,  we  had  heard  the  news  that 
you  had  cut  down  the  tree,  and  had  taken  the  woman. 
What  then  is  the  reason?” 

Tortoise  answered,  “Yes!  I married  the  woman,  because 
I had  cut  down  the  Tree.  But  Nja  took  the  woman 
away.  ” 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Then  Elephant  called  all  the  Beasts  together  to  take  coun- 
sel. He  said  to  them,  “What  shall  we  do,  because  Nja  has 
taken  away  the  wife  of  Kudu?”  They  all  replied,  “We  are 
all  afraid  of  Nja.  None  of  us  can  dare  to  say  anything  to 
him.  For,  he  kills  us  people.  So,  our  decision  is:  Let  Kudu 
give  up  his  wife  to  Nja.  ” 

But  Tortoise  said,  “I  am  unable  to  leave  her.  If  it  be 
death,  I will  die  because  of  my  wife.  ” 

So,  they  all  dispersed  from  the  house  of  Tortoise,  and  went 
to  their  own  houses. 

At  that  time,  Leopard  had  eight  wives. 

Tortoise  removed  from  the  Town-of-all-the-B easts,  and 
built  a village  for  himself,  about  one-and-a-half  miles  away. 
He  built  on  the  public  highway,  where  passed  by  all  people. 
He  put  a very  large  stone  in  front  of  his  door-yard,  large 
enough  for  one  to  sit  down  on  it.  He  made  also  a bench 
near  the  stone.  And  he  put  a plate  with  water  in  it  on  the 
ground  by  the  stone.  Then  he  placed  a certain  magic- 
medicine  on  the  seat  of  the  bench.  And  he  uttered  a Charm: 
“Let  any  one  else  who  sits  on  this  seat  go  free  from  it.  But, 
if  it  be  Nja,  let  him  not  go  from  it.” 

He  finished  all  these  things  late  in  the  afternoon.  The 
day  darkened,  and  he  went  to  his  house,  and  slept  his  sleep. 

Soon  the  day  broke. 

That  day,  Elephant  said,  “I’m  going  to  the  forest,  and 
my  wives  with  me.  ” As  he  came  on  his  way,  he  passed  by 
the  street  of  Tortoise’s  House.  He  observed  the  stone  and 
the  bench  and  the  water.  He  exclaimed,  “Ah!  I’ll  sharpen 
my  machete  here!”  So,  he  sat  down  on  the  bench,  and 
sharpened  his  machete.  Then,  went  on  his  way  into  the 
forest  with  his  wives. 

After  a while,  Ox  came  on  his  journey,  and  saw  the  stone 
and  water.  He  also  sat  down  on  the  bench,  and  sharpened 
his  machete.  And  then  went  on  his  way  into  the  forest  with 
his  wives. 

Soon  afterward,  Leopard  journeyed  along  with  all  his  eight, 
and  the  new  one,  the  ninth,  the  wife  of  Tortoise.  He  came 
to  the  house  of  Tortoise.  Looking  into  the  door-yard,  he 
exclaimed,  “Ah!  good!  and  fine!  that  Kudu  has  prepared 
these  things.  ” 

Tortoise  was  in  the  house;  he  saw  Leopard  coming,  and  he 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


139 


rejoiced,  “Very  good!  indeed!  for  the  coming  of  this  person.” 
Leopard  sat  down  on  the  bench,  and  sharpened  his  machete 
on  the  stone  with  the  water  of  the  plate.  His  women  stand- 
ing by,  waited  for  him  to  finish  the  sharpening.  When  he 
had  finished,  he  said,  “I  will  get  up,  and  start  the  journey 
again.”  But,  he  stuck  fast  to  the  bench.  He  exlcaimed, 
“ My  women ! I am  unable  to  rise ! What  shall  I do? ” 

The  “medicine”  on  the  bench  began  to  sting  him  like  bees. 
And  he  cried  out,  “Ah!  I’m  dead!  For,  I am  unable  to  rise!” 
Tortoise,  coming  out  into  the  yard,  said  to  Leopard,  “I 
am  the  one  who  caused  you  this.  You  will  not  move  thence 
until  you  give  me  back  my  wife.  If  you  do  not,  you  will 
remain  there  a whole  month,  a whole  year.  ” 

At  this,  Leopard  felt  very  much  grieved;  and  he  inquired 
of  his  women,  “The  wife  of  Kudu  is  here  in  this  company?” 
The  woman  answered,  “Yes!  I’m  here.”  Then  Leopard 
said,  “Please,  Kudu,  take  your  wife,  and  remove  me  from 
this  bench.  It  hurts  me.”  So,  Tortoise  took  his  wife. 
And  he  added,  “I  want  also  my  food  you  took  from  us  in 
the  path.  ” 

Leopard  sent  a child  back  to  his  town  in  haste  to  cut  plan- 
tains. The  child  went;  and  the  plantains  were  brought. 
Tortoise  took  them,  and  said,  “Nja!  you  are  done,  for  your 
part.  I have  taken  all  I owned.  But,  if  I release  you,  you 
will  kill  me,  and  take  again  my  wife.  You  shall  be  released 
only  after  I have  fled.  ” 

So,  Tortoise  fled  with  his  wife  and  all  his  goods  into  a 
stream  of  water.  When  safely  there,  he  shouted,  “Let 
Nja  remove  from  that  seat!” 

At  once,  Leopard  stood  up,  and  was  free.  And  he  went 
back  to  his  town,  giving  up  his  intended  journey  into  the 
forest. 


140 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


TALE  16 

Tortoise,  Dog,  Leopard  and  the  Njabi  Fruit 
Persons 

Nja  (Leopard)  Kudu  (Tortoise) 

Mbwa  (Dog)  Inani  (A  Bird) 

And  Other  Beasts 

Note:  Observe  the  cannibalism  of  the  human-animals. 


At  first,  all  Animals  were  living  in  one  region.  Of  these, 
Tortoise  and  Dog  lived  together  in  one  place,  and  built  a 
town  by  themselves.  But,  all  the  others,  Leopard,  Hippo- 
potamus, Elephant,  Ox,  etc.,  lived  together  in  another  place. 

After  some  time,  a great  famine  fell  on  the  part  of  the 
country  where  Tortoise  and  Dog  lived;  and  they  had  to  seek 
for  any  kind  of  food. 

One  day  Tortoise  said  to  Dog,  “I’m  going  awalking 
into  the  forest.”  So,  early  at  daybreak,  he  started  off  to 
seek  for  mushrooms.  All  those  other  Beasts  that  were 
living  together  had  a kind  of  tree  called  Bojabi,  bearing  a 
very  large  heavy  fruit  called  Njabi.  And  they  had  all 
agreed,  “There  are  no  other  Animals,  but  our  own  com- 
panies, who  shall  eat  of  the  fruit  of  this  Tree.”  They  were 
accustomed,  whenever  they  had  eaten  of  this  fruit,  to  go  to 
an  adjacent  prairie,  to  play. 

So  that  day,  on  his  journey,  Tortoise  happened  to  come 
to  the  foot  of  that  Tree.  The  ripe  fruit  were  falling  from 
it,  and  quantities  were  lying  on  the  ground.  He  exclaimed 
“Erne!  (indeed!),  Ibele!  (splendid),  Erne!  Abundance  of 
food!”  He  gathered,  and  ate,  and  stayed  a while  gathering 
others,  which  he  would  carry  back  to  his  town. 

While  doing  this,  a fruit  fell  from  the  branch  above,  and 
struck  him  hard  on  the  back.  The  blow  hurt  him;  but  he 
only  said,  “Ah!  the  back  of  an  aged  person!”  (My  back 
feels  like  that  of  an  aged  person.)  This  he  said  because  of 
the  pain  it  gave  him;  but  he  made  no  out-cry. 

He  had  with  him  a bag,  into  which  he  put  food  on  a journey. 
So,  he  filled  it  with  the  fruits,  and  resumed  his  journey  to 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


141 


go  back  to  bis  town.  On  his  arrival  at  his  house,  his  wife 
said  to  him,  “Why  did  you  delay  so  long?”  He  replied,  “I 
found  a Tree  belonging  to  the  Tribes-of-All-the-Beasts. 
Had  they  seen  me,  they  would  have  killed  me.”  And,  he 
drew  the  fruits  from  the  bag,  and  gave  his  wife  and  children, 
saying,  “Eat  ye!”  But,  he  added,  “While  you  eat  of  it, 
do  not  allow  Mbwa  to  see  it.  ” 

One  of  the  children  ran  out  into  the  street,  with  the  fruit 
grasped  in  his  hand.  Just  then,  Dog  happened  to  meet  the 
child  in  the  street,  and  asked  him,  “Who  gave  you  this  fruit, 
child  of  Kudu?  ” The  child  answered,  “ My  father  came  from 
the  forest,  and  brought  this  fruit  with  him.  ” In  the  evening, 
when  the  day  had  darkened,  Dog  came  and  said  to  Tortoise, 
“My  friend!  you  are  a bad  fellow;  for,  we  live  together  in 
one  place,  and  you  do  not  share  with  me!  Chum!  is  it 
possible  that  you  eat  such  good  things  here?  Where  did  you 
discover  them?”  Tortoise  then  gave  Dog  and  his  children 
a share.  But,  he  was  not  willing  to  tell  the  place  of  that 
Tree.  He  evaded,  by  saying,  “As  I went,  I forced  my  way 
through  the  jungle  of  the  forest.  But,  I did  not  find  any 
mushrooms;  they  are  about  done.  Also,  we  are  not  allowed 
to  go  to  the  place  where  this  fruit  grows.”  So  it  went  on 
for  some  time. 

On  another  evening,  Tortoise  remarked,  in  conversation 
with  Dog,  that  he  would  be  going  into  the  forest  next  day. 
Dog  said  nothing,  but  went  back  to  his  house,  as  if  to  sleep; 
while  Tortoise  remained  in  his  house,  and  went  to  bed. 

Tortoise  had  left  his  hunting-bag  hanging  in  the  public 
reception-room  by  his  house.  At  night,  Dog  arose  from  his 
house,  and  slowly  and  stealthily  went  to  the  house  of  Tortoise, 
clear  into  that  room.  Entering  it  secretly,  and  finding  the 
bag,  he  threw  ashes  into  its  mouth  and  then,  with  his  knife, 
made  holes  in  it  at  the  lower  end.  For,  he  said  to  himself, 
“When  Tortoise  shall  go  out  early,  then  I will  follow  him.” 
Then  he  went  back  to  his  house,  and  laid  down  again. 

When  day-light  began  to  break,  early  in  the  morning, 
Tortoise  arose,  took  the  bag,  and  started  on  a journey  to 
that  forest  tree  which  belonged  to  the  Beasts.  As  he  went 
the  ashes  sifted  through  the  holes  in  the  bottom  of  the  bag, 
and  fell  on  the  path.  He  finally  arrived  at  the  tree. 

Dog  also  arose  early,  and  found  which  way  Tortoise  had 


142 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


gone,  by  the  dropping  of  the  ashes ; for,  as  he  went,  Dog  was 
looking  out  for  the  marks  on  the  way;  and,  following  the 
signs,  they  clearly  showed  him  the  route,  until  he  reached 
the  tree,  soon  after  Tortoise  had  arrived. 

Tortoise  exclaimed,  “Ah!  Chum!  What  have  you  come 
here  to  do?  Who  called  you,  you  with  your  loud  howling? 
Do  you  know  who  own  this  Tree?  Can  you  endure  if  one 
of  these  fruits  should  fall  down  on  you?  For,  if  you  cry  out 
in  pain,  then  the  owners  of  this  Tree  will  catch  both  you  and 
me.  If  they  seize  me,  who  am  Kudu,  what  shall  I do?  For, 
I,  Kudu,  do  not  know  how  to  run  rapidly.”  Then  Dog 
said,  “If  they  come  to  seize  you,  I will  come  to  take  you 
from  their  hands.”  At  this,  Tortoise  laughed  out  aloud, 
“Those  beasts  of  strength!  When  they  seize  me,  you  will 
come  and  take  me  from  them?  Really?” 

Just  then  while  they  were  thus  speaking,  two  of  the  fruits 
fell  on  Tortoise’s  back,  at  the  same  time,  with  a thud,  ndu! 
ndu!  Though  in  pain,  he  only  unconcernedly  remarked, 
“The  hardened  skin  of  an  aged  person!  Ah!  the  back  of  an 
old  man!”  and  went  on  eating. 

Dog  exclaimed,  “O!  Chum!  that  big  thing  struck  you,  and 
you  were  able  to  refrain  from  crying!”  Tortoise  replied, 
“Wait  till  yours  also!” 

Presently  a very  small  fruit  thus  fell,  and  hit  Dog  on  the 
head.  He  howled  lustily,  “Ow!  ow!  ow!  ow!”  Tortoise 
said  to  him,  “Did  I not  tell  you  so!” 

There  came  down  another  fruit,  and  fell  on  Tortoise;  he 
quietly  disregarded  it.  Another  then  fell  on  Dog  with  a 
thump,  ngomu!  And  he  ran  off  howling,  “mwa!  mwa!” 
All  this  while,  Leopard  had  been  up  the  Tree.  It  was  he 
who  had  flung  the  fruit  at  Dog  and  Tortoise. 

When  Dog  ran,  Leopard  instantly  descended  the  Tree, 
and,  disregarding  Tortoise,  chased  Dog;  but  could  not  over- 
take him.  Had  he  caught  Dog,  seizing  him  tightly,  he  would 
have  killed  him  with  one  blow  of  his  paw,  ndi!  and  would 
have  eaten  him  on  the  spot.  While  Leopard  was  away, 
Tortoise  was  in  fear  and  did  not  know  what  to  do,  for  he 
knew  that  he  could  not  run  from  Leopard.  A Bird  whistled, 
“Pu!  pu!  pu!  Chum  Kudu,  Hide!  hide!”  So  Tortoise  went 
into  a hole  at  the  base  of  the  tree,  and  hid  there. 

Leopard,  on  his  return,  sought  for  Tortoise,  but  could  not 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


143 


find  him.  So,  he  climbed  the  Tree  again,  and  gathered  his 
fruits,  and  went  off  towards  the  town  of  the  Beasts.  But, 
he  met  those  Beasts  coming;  for,  they  had  heard  the  howls 
of  Dog,  and  had  shouted  at  him,  “He!  e.  e. ! Wait  for  us! 
Don’t  be  afraid!” 

All  those  People-of-the-Tree  came  an<J  gathered  about  its 
trunk.  They  searched;  and  presently  they  saw  Tortoise. 
They  exclaimed,  “So!  you  are  the  one  who  eats  for  us  the 
fruit  of  this  tree!  You  shall  die!” 

They  tied  him,  and  took  him  with  them  to  their  town. 
There  they  suspended  him  from  the  roof  of  a house,  saying, 
“To-morrow,  you  will  be  eaten!”  Off  at  his  town,  the  wife 
of  Tortoise  asked  Dog,  “Where  is  my  husband?”  Dog 
answered,  “I  think  that  the  Tribes-of-all-the-Beasts  have 
caught  him.”  After  a while,  Dog,  thinking,  said  to  him- 
self, “I  remember  my  word  that  I said  to  Kudu,  ‘If  they 
seize  you,  I will  come  to  take  you.’  ” So,  Dog  went  and 
gathered  shells  of  a very  large  snail  named  Ka.  He  took  a 
large  number,  pierced  each  one  with  a hole,  and  strung  them 
all  on  a string.  These  he  placed  about  his  neck;  and,  as  he 
went  along,  he  wriggled  his  body,  and  the  shells  struck 
together  like  little  bells.  Then  said  he  to  himself,  “The 
time  is  fulfilled  for  taking  away  my  friend.”  So,  he  went 
rapidly  to  where  the  Tribes-of-the-Beasts  had  a spring  for 
their  drinking-water.  Those  Beasts  had  sent  one  of  their 
lads  to  get  water  with  which  to  cook  Tortoise.  The  lad 
came  to  the  spring.  Dog  jingled  the  shells;  and,  the  lad  ran 
back  to  town  screaming,  “There’s  some  Thing  at  the  spring, 
which  kills!” 

Then  the  Tribes  sent  a young  man  stronger  than  the  lad, 
and  said  to  him,  “Go  you,  and  get  water  at  the  spring.” 
When  the  young  man  came  near  the  spring,  Dog  jingled 
the  shells,  as  before.  And,  the  young  man  fled  in  fear. 
So,  the  people  of  the  town  said,  “Let  us  all  go  to  the  spring 
together;  for,  that  Thing  can  not  hurt  us  all.” 

So  they  came  to  the  spring.  Dog  seeing  that  all  were 
coming,  left  the  spring,  and  ran  around  to  their  town  by 
another  path,  to  take  Tortoise  away.  Dog  found  Tortoise 
suspended  by  a rope.  He  bit  through  the  rope,  and,  with 
Tortoise  on  his  back,  he  ran  rapidly  to  their  town. 

Those  of  the  Tribes  who  first  arrived  at  the  spring,  search- 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


ed,  inquiring,  “Where  is  It?  Where  is  It?  Where  is  It?” 
Discovering  nothing,  they  returned  to  the  town.  Then,  they 
could  not  find  Tortoise.  And  they  said,  “Let  be!  Kudu  has 
slipped  away.  ” 

One  day  after  this,  the  wife  of  Dog  and  the  wife  of  Tortoise 
went  into  the  forest  to  their  gardens  to  seek  for  food.  And 
their  children  went  out  on  the  prairie,  to  play.  Dog  and 
Tortoise  both  remained  in  the  town.  Notwithstanding  that 
Dog  had  saved  his  life,  Tortoise  was  still  angry  at  him  for 
having  spoiled  their  going  to  the  Njabi  Tree.  Tortoise  came 
to  Dog’s  end  of  the  town  and  said  to  him,  “Let  us  shave  our 
foreheads.”  Dog  was  pleased,  and  said,  “Kudu,  you  first 
do  me;  then  I will  do  you.  ” 

So  Tortoise  took  the  razor,  and  he  shaved  away  Dog’s 
front  locks. 

Then  Tortoise  said  to  Dog,  “Let  me  shave  also  your  neck.  ” 
Dog  bent  down  his  head.  Tortoise  slashed  the  entire  neck, 
cutting  Dog’s  head  off.  And  Dog  fell  down  a corpse. 

Tortoise  cut  up  the  body,  and  put  the  pieces  in  a kettle  of 
water  on  the  fire.  Also,  he  gathered  pepper  pods,  and 
ground  them  for  the  seasoning.  He  looked  for  salt,  and  saw 
it  was  up  on  top  of  a shelf.  So,  he  took  three  chairs,  putting 
them  on  top  of  one  another,  by  which  to  climb  up.  As  he 
was  creeping  up,  the  chairs  fell  over  on  the  ground.  As  they 
fell,  he  tumbled  also  down,  almost  into  the  kettle  of  hot 
water,  where  were  boiling  the  pieces  of  Dog.  But,  Tortoise 
scrambled  away,  and  went  off  to  his  end  of  the  town. 

After  a while  the  children  of  Dog  came  back  from  their 
play,  and  not  finding  their  father  in  his  house,  they  came 
to  the  house  of  his  friend  Tortoise,  and  asked,  “Where  is 
our  father?”  Tortoise  replied,  “As  for  me,  where  I w&s,  I 
did  not  see  him.  When  he  went  from  here,  who  sent  for 
him?” 

When  the  two  women  returned,  Dog’s  wife  found,  but  did 
not  recognize,  the  pieces  of  meat  in  her  kettle.  She  wailed 
and  mourned  for  him  as  dead.  When,  by  the  next  day,  the 
people  of  Dog  did  not  find  him,  they  said,  “He  is  dead.” 
But  they  suspected  Tortoise.  The  wife  of  Tortoise  also 
doubted  him,  and  deserting  him,  returned  to  the  house  of 
her  father.  So,  Tortoise  left  them  all,  and  went  to  another 
place,  fearing  they  would  charge  him  with  the  death  of  Dog. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


145 


TALE  17 

A Journey  for  Salt 
Persons 

Njabu  (Civet)  Ngweya  (Hog) 

Mbama  (Boa)  Kudu  (Tortoise) 

A Man,  and  Hunters 


NOTE 

Interior  tribes  formerly  obtained  their  salt  from  sea-water 
evaporated  by  the  coast  tribes  in  large  shallow  brass  pans, 
called  “neptunes,”  imported  by  foreign  traders. 


All  these  four  Beasts  were  neighbors,  living  together  in  one 
town. 

One  time,  in  the  evening,  about  an  hour  after  the  regular 
six  o’clock  sunset,  they  all,  were  sitting  conversing  in  the 
street.  Then  Tortoise  said  to  the  others,  “Here!  I have 
something  to  say!  I wish  to  talk  with  you.  Tomorrow, 
let  us  go  on  a journey,  to  take  a walk  through  the  forest  down 
to  the  Sea,  to  buy  salt.”  They  all  assented,  “Yes!  so  let 
it  be!” 

Late  at  night,  they  dispersed  to  their  houses,  to  lie  down 
for  sleep. 

After  awhile,  the  day  began  to  break. 

Early  in  the  morning,  they  prepared  for  their  journey. 
And  Tortoise  said  to  them,  “I  have  here  another  thing  to 
say;  my  last  word.  That  is;  As  we  go,  no  one  of  us  is  to 
start  any  new  affair  on  the  way;  only  steadily  down  to  the 
Seacoast.”  They  all  said,  “Yes!  we  are  agreed.” 

So,  they  started  through  the  forest,  going  on  their  journey. 
They  went,  and  they  went,  on  and  on,  expecting  to  go  a 
long  way,  until  they  should  by  evening  come  to  their  camp- 
ing-place for  the  night.  But,  on  the  way,  Civet  began  to 
say,  “Ah!  my  stomach  aches!  Ah!  my  stomach  aches!” 


146 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Tortoise  asked,  “What  do  you  mean  by  ‘stomach-ache?’  ” 
Civet  answered,  “ ‘Stomach-ache’  means  that  my  bowels 
trouble  me,  and  that  I need  to  go.  ” 

Tortoise  said,  “Well!  go!  step  aside  from  the  path  into  the 
bushes,  and  we  will  wait  for  you  here.”  But  Civet  said, 
“No!  not  in  the  bushes;  for,  I must  go  back  to  the  kitchen- 
garden  of  my  mother  in  our  town.”  Tortoise  exclaimed, 
“By  no  means!  When  we  arranged  for  this  journey,  what 
did  I say  in  the  town?”  They  all  admitted,  “You  said  that 
none  of  us  should  start  any  affair  on  the  way.  ” Therefore 
Tortoise  said,  “But,  you,  Njabu,  have  begun  a new  matter 
on  the  way.  If  so,  this  journey  is  going  to  end  in  trouble!” 

Nevertheless,  Civet  ran  rapidly  back  before  night  to  his 
mother’s  kitchen-garden  in  his  town,  at  the  place  where  he 
usually  went,  while  the  three  others  sat  down  in  the  path  to 
await  his  return.  After  a long  time,  Civet,  having  relieved 
himself,  came  again  by  night  to  his  companions,  saying,  “I 
am  feeling  very  well.  ” 

The  next  day,  they  all  rose,  saying,  “Now!  Let  us  resume 
our  journey!”  and  they  started  again. 

They  walked,  and  they  walked,  until  Boa  cried,  “0!  my 
stomach!  O!  my  stomach  aches!”  Then  Tortoise  asked 
him,  “What  is  ‘stomach  ache’?”  Boa  replied,  “It  means 
that  hunger  has  seized  me.”  So  Tortoise  said,  “Yes,  that’s 
right.  We  have  with  us  food  for  the  journey  ready.  So, 
come,  all  of  you,  let  us  all  eat.”  But  Boa  said,  “No!  not 
this  food.  I must  go  and  seek  other  food.  ” Tortoise  in- 
quired, “What  other  kind  of  food?”  Boa  said,  “Let  me 
go  over  yonder  a little  way;  and  I shall  return.” 

As  he  was  going,  he  came  in  sight  of  a red  Antelope.  Boa 
curled  his  body  in  folds,  according  to  his  manner  of  crushing 
his  prey.  The  Antelope  happened  along;  and  Boa  seized 
and  killed  it.  He  covered  it  with  saliva  very  much,  as  is 
its  manner  in  swallowing  its  prey.  And,  carrying  it  to  their 
camp,  Boa  lay  down  with  it.  Tortoise  said,  “We  will  all 
eat  together  of  it.”  But  Boa  replied,  “We  do  not  give 
each  other  in  the  town;  shall  we  give  each  other  on  the  jour- 
ney?” Then  he  swallowed  the  entire  carcass.  Presently 
he  called  the  other  three;  and  they  went  to  him.  And  he 
said  to  them,  “I  have  finished  eating,  and  I am  satisfied.” 

So,  Tortoise  said,  “Come  on,  then;  let  us  continue  our 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


147 


journey.”  But  Boa  said,  “No!  I shall  leave  this  place  only 
when  this  Beast  I have  eaten  dissolves.  ” Tortoise  expostu- 
lated, “Indeed!  Chum!  I said  in  the  town,  ‘Let  no  one 
begin  any  matter  on  the  way,’  yet,  first  Njabu  began  his 
affair;  and  now  you,  Mbama,  begin  yours!” 

However,  they  all  sat  down,  and  waited  for  Boa’s  food  to 
digest.  For  an  entire  month  they  waited  there,  delaying 
while  that  food  was  being  digested.  Finally,  Boa  said, 
“Now,  we  will  journey,  but  first  I will  go  to  the  river  to 
drink.”  He  drank  a very  great  deal  of  water,  which  acted 
as  a purgative  to  relieve  his  bowels  of  the  bones  of  the  Ante- 
lope. Then  he  reported  to  the  others,  “I  am  feeling  very 
well.  Let  us  go.  ” 

They  went,  and  they  went.  And  they  came  to  a large 
tree  so  recently  fallen  across  the  path  that  its  leaves  were 
still  green.  Hog  jumped  over  to  the  other  side  of  it.  Also, 
Boa  crawled  over  it.  And  Civet  leaped  over  it.  They  called 
to  Tortoise,  who  was  vainly  trying  to  climb  over  it,  “Come 
on!  Let  us  go  ahead!  Jump!” 

But,  Tortoise  being  vexed,  said,  “No!  I won’t  go!  You 
know  I have  no  long  legs.  What  can  I do!  So,  I shall 
leave  this  spot  only  when  this  tree  has  rotted  through,  giving 
me  an  open  way!”  They  all  wondered,  and  said,  “No!  this 
tree  is  new  and  fresh.  It  will  rot  in  how  many  days? ” 

Tortoise  replied,  “Not  me!  you!  For,  had  not  you  two, 
Njabu  and  Mbama,  delayed  us,  we  would  already  have 
passed  this  spot  long  before  this  tree  fell.  You,  Njabu, 
first  began  a matter;  soon,  you,  Mbama,  began  your  matter; 
now,  this  is  my  matter.  Now  wait  for  me.”  So,  they 
waited  and  waited. 

But,  while  waiting,  the  other  three  went  out  sometimes 
by  early  daylight  in  the  morning  to  an  adjacent  plantation, 
and  found  there  corn,  yams,  plantains,  and  all  kinds  of  food. 
Civet  and  Hog  said,  “We  must  eat!”  They  ate  up  the 
corn,  and  finished  the  plantains. 

One  day,  a Man  of  another  town,  was  wandering  in  the 
forest.  As  he  journeyed,  he  was  looking  from  side  to  side 
on  the  way,  peering  for  what  he  might  find.  And  he  saw 
many  tracks  of  Beasts.  Examining  them  closely,  he  said, 
“This  track  looks  like  that  of  a tortoise!  Yes,  and  this  like 
a hog’s!  And,  here,  0!  this  other  is  of  a civet!  And,  ha! 


148 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


ha!  a trail  of  a boa  is  this!”  He  exclaimed,  “How  many 
Beasts  this  place  has ! I will  call  the  townspeople  to  come  and 
kill  these  Beasts;  for,  there  must  be  many.”  So,  he  hurried 
rapidly  back,  and  arrived  at  the  town. 

When  there,  he  shouted,  “Come  on,  men!  Come  to  the 
forest!  I’ve  found  many  Beasts!”  The  owner  of  the 
Plantation  came  along.  His  people  took  their  guns ; and  some 
took  machetes;  and  some,  spears  and  knives.  Others  took 
nets.  And  they  all  went  together  at  once.  They  also  had 
with  them,  dogs,  to  whose  necks  they  tied  little  bells. 

When  they  came  to  that  place  where  the  four  Beasts  were, 
the  dogs  barked  and  shook  their  bells  as  they  raced.  And  the 
men  began  to  shout  “Ha!  ha!”  to  drive  the  Beasts  into  the 
net.  They  first  ca,me  upon  Hog,  fired  a gun  at  him,  and  he 
died.  Next,  they  came  upon  Civet,  and  pierced  him  with  a 
spear.  They  killed  also  Boa,  who  was  lying  dormant  by  the 
log.  And  they  saw  the  other  Beast,  Tortoise,  on  one  side  of 
the  log,  trying  to  conceal  itself  among  the  decayed  leaves, 
and  seized  it.  Having  the  three  dead  bodies,  they  kept 
Tortoise  alive,  and  tied  him  with  a cord. 

They  had  begun  the  killing  of  these  Beasts  late  in  the 
afternoon,  and  they  reached  their  town  about  sunset.  And 
they  said,  “Put  all  the  carcasses  in  one  house;  but  suspend 
Tortoise  from  the  roof.”  They  consulted,  “We  shall  eat 
those  Beasts  only  tomorrow;  for,  the  evening  is  too  late  to 
cut  them  up  and  cook  them.”  So,  they  all  went  to 
sleep. 

Near  midnight,  Tortoise,  after  a long  effort,  wriggled  out 
of  the  coils  of  the  cord.  He  came  to  the  corner  of  the  room 
where  were  the  bodies  of  the  other  three  Beasts.  He  said 
over  Civet’s  body,  “Did  I not  say  to  you,  ‘Begin  no  new 
matter  on  the  way?’  And  now  you  are  a corpse.”  And 
over  Boa,  he  said,  “You  too;  I told  you  not  to  begin  a matter; 
and  now  you  are  a dead  body.  Had  we  not  begun  these 
matters  on  the  way,  we  would  have  finished  our  journey 
safely.” 

Then  he  scratched  a hole  under  the  wall  of  the  house,  and 
escaped  to  the  forest. 

After  that,  the  day  broke.  And  the  townspeople  said 
among  themselves,  “Bring  the  Beasts  outside  of  the  house; 
let  us  cut  them  up.  ” They  did  so  with  the  three  dead  bodies. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK  140 

And  they  told  a lad,  “Bring  the  Kudu  that  is  suspended  from 
the  rafters.” 

The  lad  looked  and  reported,  “I  have  seen  no  Kudu.” 
They  all  went  to  look  for  it,  and  could  see  nothing  of  it. 
So,  they  said,  “Let  us  eat  these.  Let  the  other  go;  for,  it  has 
run  away.” 


TALE  18 

A Plea  for  Mercy 
Persons 

Njabu  (Civet)  Vyadu  (Antelope) 

Uhingi  (Genet)  Kudu  (Tortoise) 

Kuba  (Chicken)  Ivenga,  A Woman  and  Her 

Husband  Njambo 


NOTE 

This  Tale  seems  to  be  a version  of  No.  17.  The  plea  of 
Tortoise  that  he  did  not  spoil  the  fruits  of  plantations  is 
true;  it  does  not  injure  the  gardens  of  the  natives. 


These  four  Beasts  were  living  in  one  town;  Civet,  in  his 
own  house;  Tortoise  in  his;  Antelope  also  in  his;  Genet  too 
in  his  own.  But  their  four  houses  opened  on  to  one  long 
street. 

One  day,  in  the  afternoon,  they  all  were  in  that  street, 
sitting  down  in  conversation.  Tortoise  said  to  them,  “I 
have  here  a word  to  say.”  They  replied  “Well!  Speak!” 
At  that  time,  their  town  had  a great  famine.  So,  Tortoise 
said,  “Tomorrow,  we  will  go  to  seek  food.”  They  replied, 
“Good!  just  as  soon  as  the  day,  at  its  first  break.” 

Then  they  scattered,  and  went  to  their  houses  to  lie  down 
for  sleep.  Soon,  the  day  broke.  And  they  all  got  up,  and 
were  ready  by  sunrise  at  six  o’clock. 


150 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


They  all  went  on  their  journey  to  find  food.  They  searched 
as  they  walked  a distance  of  several  miles.  Then  they  came 
to  a plantation  of  Njambo’s  wife  Ivenga.  It  was  distant 
from  Njambo’s  town  about  one  hour’s  walk.  It  had  a great 
deal  of  sugar-cane;  also  of  yams  and  cassava.  It  had  also  a 
quantity  of  sweet  potatoes.  There  also,  the  chickens  of 
Njambo  were  accustomed  to  go  to  scratch  for  worms  among 
the  plants. 

At  once,  Civet  exclaimed,  “I’ll  go  no  further!  I like  to  eat 
sugar-cane!”  So  he  went  to  the  plot  of  cane. 

Antelope  also  said,  “I  too!  I’ll  not  go  any  further.  I like 
to  eat  leaves  of  potato  and  cassava.”  So  he  went  to  the 
plot  of  cassava. 

And  Genet  said,  “Yes!  I see  Kuba  here!  I like  to  eat  Kuba! 
I’ll  go  no  further! ” So,  he  went  after  the  chickens. 

But  first,  the  three  had  asked  Tortoise,  “Kudu!  what  will 
you  do?  Have  you  nothing  to  eat?”  Tortoise  answered, 
“I  have  nothing  to  eat.  But,  I shall  await  you  even  two 
days,  and  will  not  complain.”  So,  Civet  remarked,  “Yes! 
I will  not  soon  leave  here,  till  I eat  up  all  this  cane.  Then 
I will  go  back  to  town.”  Antelope  also  said,  “Yes!  the 
same.  I will  remain  here  with  the  potato  leaves  till  I finish 
them,  before  I go  back. ” Genet  also  said,  “Yes!  I see  many 
Kuba  here.  I will  stay  and  finish  them.  ” 

Tortoise  only  said,  “I  have  nothing  to  say.” 

In  that  plantation  was  a large  tree;  and  Tortoise  went  to 
lie  down  at  its  foot. 

They  were  all  there  about  four  days,  eating  and  eating. 
On  the  fifth  day,  Njambo’s  wife  Ivenga  in  the  town  said  to 
herself,  “I’ll  go  today,  and  see  about  my  plantation,  how  it 
is.  ” 

She  came  to  the  plantation,  and  when  she  saw  the  condition 
in  which  it  was,  she  lifted  up  her  voice,  and  began  to  wail  a 
lamentation.  She  saw  that  but  little  cane  was  left,  and  not 
much  of  potatoes.  Looking  in  another  part  of  the  planta- 
tion, she  saw  lying  there,  very  many  feathers  of  chickens. 

She  ran  back  rapidly  to  town  to  tell  her  husband.  But, 
she  was  so  excited  she  could  scarcely  speak.  He  asked  her, 
“What’s  the  matter,  Ivenga?”  She  answered,  “I  have  no 
words  to  tell  you.  For,  the  Plantation  is  left  with  no  food.  ” 
Then,  the  Man  called  twenty  men  of  the  town;  and  he  said 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


151 


to  them,  “Take  four  nets!”  They  took  the  nets,  and  also 
four  dogs,  with  small  bells  tied  to  the  necks  of  the  dogs.  The 
men  had  also  guns  and  spears  and  machetes  in  their  hands. 
They  followed  into  the  forest;  and  they  came  on  to  three  of 
the  Beasts.  They  came  first  upon  Antelope,  with  their  dogs; 
and  they  shot  him  dead.  Then  the  dogs  came  on  Genet,  and 
they  followed  him;  and  soon  he  was  shot  with  a gun.  They 
came  also  on  Civet,  and  killed  him. 

Taking  up  the  carcasses,  they  said  to  each  other,  “Let 
us  go  back  to  town.”  On  the  way,  they  came  to  the  big 
Tree,  and  found  Tortoise  lying  at  the  base.  They  took  him 
also,  and  then  went  on  to  their  town. 

Arrived  there,  Njambo  ordered,  “Put  Kudu  in  a house 
and  suspend  him  from  the  roof.”  Also  he  ordered,  “Take 
off  the  skin  of  Vyadu  and  hang  it  in  the  house  where  Kudu 
is. ” He  added,  “Take  off  also  the  skin  of  Njabu.”  They  did 
so,  and  they  put  it  into  that  house.  He  directed  that  Genet 
should  also  be  skinned,  and  his  skin  hung  in  that  same  house. 
So,  there  was  left  of  these  beasts  in  the  street,  only  the  flesh 
of  their  bodies.  These  the  men  cut  up  and  divided  among 
themselves.  And  they  feasted  for  several  days. 

On  the  fourth  day  afterward,  Njambo  said  to  his  wife, 
“I’m  going  on  a visit  to  a town  about  three  miles  away.  Do 
you,  while  I am  away,  kill  Kudu,  and  prepare  him  with  ngan- 
da  for  me,  by  my  return.  ” The  woman  got  ready  the  ngandd 
seeds  (gourd)  for  the  pudding,  and  then  went  into  the  room 
to  take  Tortoise.  In  the  dim  light,  she  lifted  up  her  hand, 
and  found  the  string  that  suspended  Tortoise. 

But,  before  she  untied  it,  Tortoise  said,  “Just  wait  a little.” 
The  woman  took  away  her  hand,  and  stood  waiting.  Tor- 
toise asked  her,  “This  skin  there  looks  like  what?”  The 
woman  replied,  “A  skin  of  Vyadu.  ” And  Tortoise  inquired, 
“What  did  Vyadu  do?”  The  woman  answered,  “Vyadu 
ate  my  potatoes  in  the  Plantation,  and  my  husband  killed 
him  for  it.  ” Tortoise  said,  “ That  is  well.  ” 

Then  Tortoise  again  asked,  “This  other  skin  is  of  what 
animal?”  The  woman  replied,  “Of  Uhingi. ” Tortoise 
inquired,  “What  did  Uhingi  do?”  The  woman  answered, 
“Uhingi  killed  and  ate  my  and  my  husband’s  Kuba;  and  he 
was  killed  for  that.”  Then  Tortoise  said,  “Very  good 
reason!” 


152 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Again  Tortoise  asked  the  woman,  “This  other  skin?” 
She  answered,  “Of  Njabu.”  Tortoise  asked,  “Njabu,  what 
did  he  do?”  She  answered,  “Njabu  ate  my  sugar-cane, 
and  my  husband  killed  him.”  Tortoise  said,  “A  proper 
reason!  But,  you,  you  are  going  to  kill  me  and  cook  me 
with  nganda-pudding.  What  have  I done?”  The  woman 
had  no  reason  to  give.  So  she  left  Tortoise  alive,  and  began 
to  cook  the  gourd-seeds  with  fish. 

Soon,  Njambo  himself  came  back,  and  his  wife  set  before 
him  the  nganda  and  fish.  But  he  objected,  “Ah!  my  wife! 
I told  you  to  cook  Kudu;  and  you  have  cooked  me  fish. 
Why?”  The  woman  told  him,  “My  husband!  first  finish 
this  food,  and  then  you  and  I will  go  to  see  about  Kudu.” 
So,  Njambo  finished  eating,  and  Ivenga  removed  the  plates 
from  the  table.  Then  they  two  went  into  the  room  where 
Tortoise  was  suspended. 

The  woman  sat,  but  Njambo  was  standing  ready  to  pluck 
down  Tortoise.  Then  Tortoise  said  to  Njambo,  “You,  Man! 
just  wait ! ” The  woman  also  said  to  Njambo,  “ My  husband ! 
listen  to  what  Kudu  says  to  you.  ” 

Tortoise  asked,  “You,  Man,  what  skin  is  this?”  Njambo 
answered,  “Of  Vyadu.  I killed  him  on  account  of  this 
eating  my  Plantation.”  Then  Tortoise  asked,  “And  that 
skin?”  Njambo  answered,  “Of  Uhingi;  and  I killed  him 
for  eating  my  Kuba.”  Tortoise  again  asked,  “And  this 
other?  ” Njambo  answered,  “ Of  Njabu;  for  eating  my  sugar- 
cane. ” 

Then  Tortoise  said,  “There  were  four  of  us  in  the  Planta- 
tion. What  have  I eaten?  Tell  me.  If  I have  eaten,  then 
I should  die.”  Njambo  told  him,  “I’ve  found  no  reason 
against  you.”  Tortoise  then  asked,  “Then,  why  should  I 
die?”  So,  Njambo  untied  Tortoise  from  the  roof,  and  said 
to  Ivenga,  “Let  Kudu  go;  for,  I find  no  reason  against  him. 
Let  him  go  as  he  pleases.  ” 

So,  Ivenga  set  Tortoise  free;  and  he  hasted  back  to  his 
town  in  peace. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


153 


TALE  19 

The  Deceptions  of  Tortoise 


Persons 


Nja  (Leopard) 
Kudu  (Tortoise) 
Ngambi  (Igwana) 


Mbama  (Boa) 

Ngando  (Crocodile) 

With  Men,  A Woman,  and 
Child 


NOTE 

A portion  of  this  Tale  seems  to  be  a version  of  No.  12. 


Leopard  and  Tortoise  built  together  a large  town.  Leop- 
ard said  to  Tortoise,  “I  will  live  with  you,  but  I shall  not 
be  able  to  eat  with  you;  for,  I am  a great  man,  and  I eat 
alone.  ” 

Some  time  after  this.  Tortoise  went  away,  and  married  a 
wife.  One  day,  his  wife  being  hungry,  he  went  off  into  the 
forest  to  seek  food  for  her.  And  he  found  mushrooms.  He 
gathered  them;  took  them  and  returned  with  them  to  the 
town.  There  he  said  to  his  wife,  “Eat!”  and  she  ate. 

Some  time  after  this,  the  woman  was  about  to  become  a 
mother.  And,  on  another  day,  Tortoise  went  again  into  the 
forest  to  find  food  for  his  wife.  As  before,  he  gathered 
mushrooms.  But,  when  he  brought  them  to  his  wife,  she 
said  to  him,  “I  don’t  like  these  things;  the  same  every  day!” 

So,  Tortoise  went  off  again  to  seek  food  in  the  forest.  He 
came  near  a strange  town,  and  heard  voices  of  Mankind 
talking.  In  fear,  he  hid  himself,  and  watched  what  wTould 
happen.  He  observed  that  there  were  Men  going  off  into 
the  forest,  with  implements  of  search  for  wild  animals.  He 
saw  them,  but  kept  himself  closely  hidden. 

When  they  had  gone,  he  came  out  of  his  hiding,  and  went 
into  one  of  these  houses  of  Men,  and  sat  down  there.  Then 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


he  walked  into  the  rooms.  On  the  shelves  of  the  kitchen, 
he  saw  a large  quantity  of  wild  meat  drying.  He  took  of 
that  meat,  and  went  away  with  it  to  his  own  town. 

He  found  on  his  arrival  that  his  wife  had  already  borne  her 
child,  the  little  tortoise.  When  Tortoise  showed  her  the 
meat,  she  asked  him,  “Where  did  you  get  all  this  meat?” 
He  replied  evasively,  “You  told  me  to  get  you  meat;  so  I 
went;  and  I have  come  with  it.  ” The  woman  was  glad,  and 
said,  “Do  so  every  day!” 

So,  another  time,  Tortoise  again  went  off  into  the  forest. 
And  he  came  to  the  town  of  those  Men.  They  were  not 
there;  for,  they  had  gone  off  on  their  hunting.  He  went 
again  into  their  house;  took  of  their  meat,  and  returned  to 
his  place.  On  giving  the  food  to  his  wife,  he  said  to  her, 
“Do  not  show  Nja  this  meat!” 

After  this,  little  Tortoise  grew,  and  began  to  go  by  itself, 
walking  about  the  town.  Tortoise  told  the  child,  “Do  not 
show  Nja  the  things  you  eat.”  But,  the  child  did  not  obey. 
One  day,  it  wTent  off  toward  Leopard’s  house,  having  in  its 
hand  the  flesh  of  the  wild  animal  it  was  eating.  Tortoise 
saw  his  child  going  and  called  him  back,  but,  he  ran  rapidly 
away  to  Leopard’s;  who,  seeing  the  child  with  food  in  its 
hand,  cried  out,  “Come  here!”  Leopard  took  hold  of  the 
child’s  hand  to  see  what  meat  he  was  eating,  and  said  to  him, 
“Your  father  has  no  gun;  where  does  he  get  all  this  meat?” 
The  child  was  silent,  not  knowing  whence  the  meat  came, 
and  did  not  answer;  and  he  returned  to  his  father’s  house. 

So,  Leopard  said  to  himself,  “Kudu  and  I must  have  a 
talk.  ” He  told  his  wife  to  make  ready  their  food.  She  did 
so.  Then  he  told  one  of  his  children,  “ Go ! call  Kudu  to  come 
and  eat  with  me.”  The  child  went  and  told  as  he  was  bidden. 
Tortoise  sent  word,  “I  can’t  come.”  His  wife,  however, 
said  to  him,  “Go!”  Tortoise  objected  to  her,  saying,  “I’m 
afraid  of  that  man!”  Still  his  wife  said  to  him,  “Go!”  So, 
he  went. 

Leopard  set  out  the  food  that  had  been  prepared.  Then 
he  asked  Tortoise,  “Where  did  you  get  the  meat  which  I saw 
with  your  child?”  Tortoise  replied,  “I  picked  it  up.”  Leop- 
ard said,  “No!  don’t  tell  lies!”  They  changed  the  conver- 
sation, and  went  on  eating.  When  they  were  done,  Tortoise 
went  back  to  his  house. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


155 


Next  day,  Leopard  said  to  his  people,  “I’m  going  to  visit 
Kudu.  ” So  he  went,  and  entered  into  the  house  of  the  wife 
of  Tortoise.  There  he  saw  much  dried  wild  meat.  He  ex- 
claimed, “ 0 ! Kudu ! you  told  me  falsely ! You  and  I living 
in  the  same  town,  can't  you  let  me  know  what  happens?” 

Then  Leopard  went  back  to  his  house.  That  evening  he 
said  to  his  children,  “Go  to  the  house  of  Kudu.  If  you 
see  a hunting-bag  hanging  there,  take  hold  of  it;  with  a knife 
pierce  holes  in  the  bottom;  and  fill  the  bag  with  ashes.” 
They  did  so,  putting  in  much  ashes.  They  returned  to  their 
father,  and  told  him  what  they  had  done.  He  replied,  “Very 
good!” 

That  night,  Tortoise  said  to  his  wife,  “Tomorrow,  I shall 
not  go  out  hunting.”  But,  she  said,  “Yes!  Go!  and  kill  me 
some  animal.”  So,  he  consented. 

Then  day  began  to  break.  Tortoise  went  into  the  en- 
trance-room; thence  he  took  his  hunting-bag;  but,  in  the 
dark  of  the  morning,  he  saw  nothing  wrong  about  it.  And 
he  went  on  his  way. 

Soon,  also,  Leopard  came  out  of  his  house;  and,  going  to 
the  house  of  Tortoise,  he  inquired,  “Kudu  is  in  the  house?” 
The  wife  of  Tortoise  from  her  bed-room,  replied,  “Kudu  is 
not  here.”  Then  Leopard  went  into  the  entrance-room  of 
Tortoise;  and  looking  about,  he  saw  that  the  bag  w'as  not 
there.  So,  he  followed  after  Tortoise;  and,  as  he  walked, 
he  looked  out  for  marks  of  the  ashes.  He  followed,  and  he 
followed;  and  finally  overtook  Tortoise. 

Tortoise,  as  soon  as  he  saw'  Leopard  coming,  said  to  him, 
“I’m  going  back  to  town ! ” Leopard  asked,  “ Why?  Don’t 
go!  Why  do  you  go?”  Tortoise,  remembering  his  having 
said  he  was  “a  great  man,”  answered,  “Because  you  are 
proud.  ” But,  Leopard  insisted,  “No!  go  on  where  you  were 
going.”  So,  Tortoise  consented,  “Well,  let  us  go!” 

They  went,  and  came  to  the  town  of  Men.  And  they  found 
that  the  men  were  gone  off  into  the  forest.  Tortoise  observed 
that  the  house  was  closed  and  locked.  Leopard  said  to  him, 
“Open  the  house!”  But  Tortoise  replied,  “You,  Nja  you 
open  the  house!”  But,  Leopard  said,  “I  am  a stranger  here; 
you  travel  here  continually;  you  know  the  way!”  So,  Tor- 
toise opened  the  house;  and  they  both  entered. 

Leopard  saw  the  bodies  of  many  wild  animals  drying  in  the 


156 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


house.  Tortoise  said  to  him,  “Carry  the  meat,  and  let  us 
go!”  But,  Leopard  said,  “No!  I’m  staying  here,  and  will 
cook  some  meat  here.”  Tortoise  objected,  “No!  take  the 
meat  and  let  us  go.  For,  here  are  great  Men  who  kill  us 
people.” 

However,  Leopard  insisted,  “No!  first  let  me  eat.”  So, 
Tortoise  said,  “Very  well!  I’ll  carry  away  my  share;  for,  I’m 
going.”  But  Leopard  still  insisted,  “No!  wait  for  me.” 
So,  Tortoise  yielded,  and  waited  for  him  in  the  house. 

Leopard  cooked  his  meat.  While  the  pot  was  on  the  fire- 
place, and  before  he  had  eaten,  suddenly  the  Men  returned. 
Tortoise  exclaimed,  “The  Men  of  the  Town  have  returned! 
What  shall  we  do?”  For  himself,  Tortoise  said,  “I’m  going 
to  hide  in  the  bedroom!”  But,  Leopard  said,  “No!  I’m  the 
elder;  the  bedroom  is  the  place  for  me.”  He  went  into  the 
bedroom.  Tortoise  remained  in  the  reception-room,  and 
hid  himself  in  a pile  of  the  women’s  cassava  leaves. 

Soon  afterward,  the  Men  also  came  into  that  room.  And 
a woman  said,  “I  left  those  leaves  here  when  I was  cooking. 
I must  throw  them  into  the  back  yard.  ” So,  she  swept  the 
leaves  (with  Tortoise  unseen  among  them)  in  a heap,  and 
threw  them  out  doors. 

In  the  bedroom,  where  Leopard  had  hidden,  there  was  a 
child  of  this  woman,  sick  with  a skin-disease.  The  woman 
called  out  to  her  child,  “My  child!  are  you  there?”  The 
child  replied,  “Yes!”  The  Men  in  the  entrance-room,  ob- 
serving the  pot  on  the  fire,  asked  the  woman,  “While  we 
were  away,  did  you  leave  a kettle  on  the  fire-place?”  The 
woman,  thinking  the  pot  belonged  to  someone  else  who  had 
been  cooking,  answered,  “No.”  The  Men  then  directed 
her,  “Make  food  for  us!”  So,  she  made  them  food  in  that 
pot  which  Leopard  had  left,  adding  other  meat  to  it. 

The  child  in  the  bedroom,  smelling  the  odor  of  cooking, 
called  out,  “Mother!  I want  to  eat!”  So,  the  mother  made 
food  for  him.  And  she  took  the  plate  to  him,  setting  it  down 
in  the  doorway,  (but  did  not  enter  the  room,  and  so  did  not 
see  Leopard). 

Leopard  took  the  child’s  food.  The  child,  in  terror,  made 
no  out-cry.  Leopard  ate  up  all  the  food.  Then  the  child 
began  to  weep.  The  mother,  hearing,  asked,  “Why  do  you 
cry?”  The  child  answered,  “For  hunger.” 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


157 


She  wondered  that  that  plateful  had  not  been  sufficient; 
but,  she  made  him  more  food.  And  she  brought  it  to  him 
into  the  room,  but  she  did  not  see  the  Leopard;  nor  did  the 
child  tell  her.  She  left  the  food  there,  and  went  out.  The 
child  was  about  to  take  the  food  to  eat  it,  when  Leopard 
again  snatched  it  away.  But,  even  then,  the  child,  in  fear, 
did  not  scream  out.  And  Leopard  ate  all  the  food. 

Then  the  child  began  to  weep  out  aloud.  The  mother 
again  asked,  “What  do  you  want?”  The  child  answered, 
“I  want  food.”  The  mother  wondered  much,  and,  hasten- 
ing into  the  bedroom,  she  sawT  Leopard.  Then  she  shouted, 
“Men!  Here’s  Nja!”  The  men  came,  and  they  killed  Leop- 
ard. 

All  this  while,  Tortoise  remained  hidden  in  the  bushes 
outside;  and  he  heard  all  that  was  happening.  He  said  to 
himself,  “I’m  going  to  town  to  tell  the  children  of  Nja  that 
he  is  dead.”  So,  he  went  back  to  his  town.  At  first,  he 
told  only  his  wife,  “Men  have  killed  Nja.”  Then  he  said, 
“I  must  now  call  the  children  of  Nja.” 

So,  he  called  all  the  people  of  Leopard.  And  he  said  to 
them,  “I  will  tell  you  something;  but,  don’t  kill  me  for  my 
evil  news.  So,  I tell  you,  Nja  is  dead!”  They  all  laughed 
in  derision,  as  if  it  was  not  possible,  “We  will  know  about 
that  matter  tomorrow!” 

And  that  day  darkened.  In  the  evening,  Tortoise  told 
his  wife  and  children,  “We  must  flee  to  another  place.” 
For,  he  feared  that  Leopard’s  people  would  charge  him  with 
their  father’s  death.  So,  that  night  they  fled.  And  they 
built  their  town  far  away  at  another  place. 

When  the  children  of  Leopard  saw  that  Tortoise  had  fled, 
they  believed  him  guilty;  and  they  said,  “The  day  we  shall 
see  Kudu,  we  will  kill  him.  ” 

Tortoise  and  his  family  had  been  living  at  their  new  place 
only  about  a month,  when,  one  day,  he  said  to  his  family, 
“I’m  going  on  a journey  to  the  town  of  Mbama. ” So  he 
went  to  that  town.  He  stayed  there  visiting  about  a week. 
While  there,  he  said  to  Boa,  “If  a child  of  Nja  comes  here, 
hide  me.  ” Shortly  afterward,  a child  of  Leopard  did  come. 
Boa  took  Tortoise,  and  set  him  for  safety  on  a rock  in  the 
middle  of  the  river.  Tortoise  sat  there  a long  time;  and, 
while  there,  he  laid  what  looked  like  an  egg.  Surprised,  he 


158 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


threw  it  into  the  water;  and  it  floated  away.  Finally  it  came 
ashore  at  the  landing-place  of  Crocodile’s  town. 

Crocodile  saw  it,  and  said,  “Go,  and  seek  the  person  who 
made  this  thing.”  His  children  went  to  seek.  They  jour- 
neyed, and  found  Tortoise,  and  took  him.  They  brought 
him  to  their  father,  and  told  him,  “This  is  the  person.” 
Crocodile  asked  Tortoise,  “ You  made  this  Thing?  ” Tortoise 
said  “Yes!”  Then  Crocodile  told  him,  “Make  me  many  of 
these  Things.”  So  Tortoise  told  him,  “Bring  me  here  a 
great  many  plantains;  and  arrange  the  house  in  order.” 
Crocodile  arranged  all  the  house  nicely.  Tortoise  entered 
it,  and  was  given  an  inside  room.  He  remained  there  in  that 
room  all  by  himself  with  the  plantains. 

At  last,  one  day  he  emerged.  And  he  said  to  Crocodile, 
“ Send  me  in  company  with  one  of  your  people  across  the 
river.”  Crocodile  told  him,  “You  yourself  name  the  person 
who  shall  go  with  you.  ” Tortoise  said  he  wanted  Crocodile’s 
cousin  Igwana,  who  was  living  there  with  Crocodile’s  people. 

So  Igwana  and  Tortoise  got  into  a canoe,  and  started  to 
cross  the  river.  Crocodile  then  entered  the  room  where 
Tortoise  had  been.  Searching  there,  he  did  not  find  any  of 
the  Things  which  Tortoise  had  promised  to  make.  So  Croc- 
odile shouted  after  Tortoise,  whose  canoe  had  not  yet  crossed 
the  river,  to  come  back.  Tortoise  heard;  and  he  asked 
Igwana,  “Do  you  hear  how  Crocodile  is  calling  to  you?” 
Don’t  you  know  what  he  is  saying?”  (Natives  believe  the 
Igwana  to  be  deaf.)  Igwana  answered,  “No!  what  does  he 
say?”  Tortoise  said,  “He  tells  you  to  paddle  faster!  Don’t 
be  so  slow!”  So,  Igwana  paddled  rapidly;  and  soon  his 
work  was  finished;  and  they  reached  the  other  side.  There, 
Tortoise  got  out  of  the  canoe;  and  he  told  Igwana  to  go  back. 
Igwana  did  so.  And  Tortoise  went  on  his  way. 

After  a while,  a child  of  Leopard  met  with  Tortoise  on  the 
path.  The  child  asked  him,  “Is  not  this  Kudu?”  Tortoise 
replied,  “Yes,  I am  he.”  Then  the  child  of  Leopard  said  to 
him,  “You  killed  my  father!  I shall  also  kill  you!”  So,  he 
killed  Tortoise. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


159 


TALE  20 


Leopard’s  Hunting  Companions 


Persons 


Nja  (Leopard)  and  His  Neph- 
ew 

Etoli  (House-Rat) 

Ngomba  (Porcupine) 

Iheli  (Gazelle) 


Nyati  (Ox) 

Njaku  (Elephant) 

Ko  (Wild-Rat) 

Kudu  (Tortoise) 
Indondobe  (Wagtail) 


Leopard  and  other  Beasts,  with  a son  of  Leopard’s  sister, 
were  residing  in  the  same  town.  One  day,  Leopard  said  to 
the  others,  “I  have  here  a word  to  say.”  They  replied, 
“Tell  it.  ” “ We  must  go  to  kill  Beasts  (not  of  our  company) 

for  our  food,  at  a place  which  I will  show  you  a number  of 
miles  away.  ” And  they  made  their  arrangements. 

After  two  days,  he  said,  “Now,  for  the  journey!”  So  they 
finished  their  preparations.  And  Leopard  said  to  his  nephew, 
“You  stay  in  the  town.  I and  the  others  will  go  to  our  work.” 

They  began  their  journey,  and  had  gone  only  a part  of  the 
way,  when  Leopard  exclaimed,  “I  forgot  my  spear!  Wait 
for  me  while  I go  back  to  the  town.”  There  he  found  his 
nephew  sitting  down,  waiting.  Leopard  said  to  him,  “ I have 
come  to  tell  you  that,  every  day,  while  we  are  away,  you 
must  come  early  to  where  we  are  killing  the  animals;  and 
secretly  you  must  take  away  the  meat  and  bring  it  here  to 
my  house.  ” The  nephew  heard  and  promised. 

Leopard  returned  to  the  others  who  were  awaiting  him 
on  the  road,  and  told  them  to  come  on.  They  went,  and 
they  arrived  at  the  spot  which  he  had  chosen.  There  they 
hastily  built  a small  house  for  their  camp.  The  next  day 
they  said,  “Now,  let  us  go  and  make  our  snares  for  the 
animals.”  They  began  making  snares;  and  set  their  traps 
early  in  the  afternoon.  A few  hours  later,  they  returned  to 
the  camp.  Later  still,  before  sunset,  they  said,  “Let  us  go 
to  examine  our  snares.  ” They  found  they  had  caught  an 


160 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Igwana.  They  killed  it  and  put  it  on  the  drying-frame  over 
the  fire  in  the  house. 

Then  the  day  darkened.  And  they  went  to  their  sleep. 

And  then  the  day  broke. 

And  Leopard  said,  “While  we  go  to  the  snares,  who  shall 
remain  to  take  care  of  this  house?”  They  agreed,  “Let 
Etoli  stay  at  the  camp.”  House-Rat  assented,  “All  right.” 
So  the  others  went  away  together. 

The  camp  had  been  made  near  a small  stream.  At  that 
same  hour,  Leopard’s  nephew  came  to  the  camp,  according 
to  his  uncle’s  directions.  He  had  in  his  hands  a plate  and  a 
drum.  He  came  near  to  the  house  cautiously.  With  the 
plate  he  twice  swept  the  surface  of  the  water,  as  if  bailing  out 
a canoe.  Rat  heard  the  swish  of  the  water,  and  called  out, 
“Who  is  splashing  water  there?  Who  is  dabbling  in  this 
water?”  The  nephew  responded,  “It  is  I,  a friend.”  And 
Rat  said,  “Well,  then  come.” 

The  nephew  came  to  the  house.  After  a little  conversa- 
tion, he  said  to  Rat,  “I  have  here  a drum,  and,  while  I beat 
it,  you  dance  for  me.”  Rat  was  pleased,  and  said,  “Very 
well.”  So,  the  nephew  beat  the  drum,  and  Rat  danced. 
After  a while,  the  nephew  said  to  Rat,  “ Go  you,  out  into  the 
front,  and  dance  there,  while  I beat  the  drum  here.”  As 
Rat  went  out,  the  nephew  snatched  the  dried  meat  and  ran 
away  with  it,  suddenly  disappearing  around  a corner  of  the 
house.  He  came  to  the  town,  and  placed  the  meat  in  his 
own  house. 

Rat  waited  a while  in  the  front,  and,  not  hearing  the  drum 
came  back  into  the  house,  and  called  out,  “Chum!  where  are 
you?”  He  looked  about,  and  his  eyes  falling  on  the  drying- 
frame,  he  saw  that  the  dried  meat  was  not  there.  He  began 
to  mourn,  “Ah!  Leopard  will  kill  me  to  day,  because  of  the 
loss  of  his  meat.  ” 

While  he  was  thus  speaking,  the  company  of  trappers, 
together  with  Leopard,  came  back  from  their  morning’s 
work.  Leopard  told  Rat  all  that  had  occurred  to  them  in 
the  forest  at  their  traps  and  snares;  and  then  said,  “Now, 
tell  me  what  you  have  been  doing,  and  the  happenings  of 
this  camp.”  Rat  told  him,  “Some  one  has  come  and  taken 
away  the  dried  meat,  but  I did  not  see  who  it  was.  ” Leopard 
said,  “You  are  full  of  falsehood.  Yourself  have  eaten  it 


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161 


while  we  were  away  in  the  forest.  ” So,  Leopard  gave  him  a 
heavy  flogging.  Then  they  put  on  the  drying-frame  the 
animal  they  had  trapped  that  day. 

The  next  day  they  went  again  to  the  forest;  and  Wild-Rat 
was  left  in  charge  of  the  camp.  The  nephew  came,  as  on  the 
day  before,  with  his  plate  and  drum,  and  did  in  the  same 
way  at  the  water.  And  he  deceived  the  Wild-Rat  with  his 
drumming,  in  the  same  way  as  he  had  done  to  House-Rat. 

When  Leopard  and  the  others  came  back  from  the  forest, 
Wild-Rat  told  him  of  the  loss  of  the  meat;  and  said  that  he 
had  seen  no  one,  and  did  not  know  who  took  it.  Leopard 
said  to  him,  “You,  Ko,  have  eaten  the  meat,  just  as  your 
relative  Etoli  ate  his  yesterday.” 

Thus  Leopard  and  his  company  went  each  day  to  the 
traps.  On  the  third  day,  Porcupine  was  caught;  on  the 
fourth  Gazelle;  on  the  fifth,  Ox;  on  the  sixth,  Elephant. 
Beast  after  beast  was  caught,  killed  and  dried;  and,  day  by 
day,  the  meat  of  all  was  stolen.  The  last  to  be  thus  caught 
and  stolen  was  Tortoise. 

The  nephew  in  Leopard’s  town,  looked  with  satisfaction 
on  the  pile  of  dried  meat  that  had  been  collected  in  his  own 
house.  He  said  to  himself,  “My  uncle  told  me  to  gather 
them;  and  I have  done  so.  But,  I will  not  put  them  in  Uncle’s 
house.  ” 

In  the  camp,  there  was  left  only  one  animal  of  Leopard’s 
companions  that  had  not  been  placed  on  guard.  It  was  a 
Bird,  a water  Wag-tail.  It  said  to  Leopard  one  day,  “While 
you  all  go  on  your  errand  today,  I will  remain  as  keeper  of 
the  house.”  Leopard  replied,  “No!  my  friend,  I don’t  wish 
you  to  remain.”  (For,  Leopard  knew  that  that  Bird  was 
very  cautious  and  wise,  more  so  than  some  other  animals.) 
Nevertheless,  they  went,  leaving  the  Bird  in  charge  of  the 
house. 

The  nephew  came,  as  usual,  with  his  plate  and  drum.  He 
splashed  the  water  of  the  stream  as  usual,  to  see  whether 
there  was  anyone  in  the  house  to  respond.  And  the  Bird 
asked,  “ Who  are  you?  ” The  nephew  answered,  in  a humble 
voice,  “I.”  He  came  on  through  the  stream,  on  his  way, 
catching  two  cray-fish.  He  entered  the  house,  and  he  said 
to  the  Bird,  “Get  me  some  salt,  and  a leaf  in  which  to  tie  and 
roast  these  cray-fish.  ” When  the  Bird  gave  him  the  leaf,  he 


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tied  them  in  it,  and  laid  the  small  bundle  on  the  coals  on  the 
fire-place.  But  he  at  once  took  up  the  bundle,  opened  it, 
and  ate  the  fish,  before  they  were  really  cooked.  The  Bird 
said  to  him,  “Those  fish  were  not  yet  cooked.  Your  stomach 
is  like  your  Uncle  Nja’s.  Both  you  and  your  Uncle  like  to 
eat  things  raw.  ” 

The  Bird  at  once  suspected  that  the  nephew  was  the  thief. 
When  the  nephew  said,  “I  have  here  a drum,”  Bird  at  once, 
as  if  very  willing,  replied,  “Drum!  I want  to  dance.”  The 
nephew  was  standing  in  the  front  with  his  drum,  and  he  said 
to  Bird,  “Come  and  dance  out  here;  for,  the  drum  sounds 
much  better  outside.”  But  the  Bird  said,  “I  will  not  dance 
in  the  same  place  with  you.  ” The  nephew  then  said,  “ Well, 
then;  change  places;  you  come  here,  and  I go  into  the  house. ” 
But  the  Bird  refused,  “No!  I stay  in  the  house.” 

Most  of  the  morning  was  thus  spent  by  the  nephew  trying 
to  deceive  the  Bird,  and  get  into  the  house  alone.  Finally, 
the  nephew  wearied,  and  gave  up  the  effort  and  left. 

Soon  the  company  of  trappers  with  Leopard  returned  from 
the  forest.  He  told  the  Bird  all  the  news  of  their  forest  work. 
Looking  at  the  drying-frames,  Leopard  saw  that  the  dried 
meat  was  still  there.  He  thought  in  his  heart,  “ My  nephew 
has  not  come  today  to  get  this  meat.  ” 

The  Bird  then  told  Leopard  all  the  news  of  the  camp,  and 
how  the  nephew  had  been  acting.  At  the  last,  he  exclaimed, 
“So!  it  is  your  nephew  who  has  been  coming  here  every  day 
to  take  away  the  dried  meat!”  And  all  the  animals  agreed, 
“So!  so!  that’s  so!”  But  Leopard  replied,  “I  don’t  believe 
it.  But,  let  us  adjourn  and  examine.”  (He  supposed  the 
meat  was  hidden  in  his  own  house,  and  would  not  be  dis- 
covered.) 

They  all  scattered,  and  hastened  to  their  town.  There 
they  entered  the  nephew’s  house;  and  there  they  found  a great 
pile  of  dried  meat.  They  proved  the  theft  on  Leopard  him- 
self, pointing  out,  “Here  is  the  very  meat  in  the  house  of  one 
of  your  own  family.  We  are  sure  that  you  yourself  made 
the  conspiracy  with  your  nephew  for  him  to  do  the  stealing 
for  you.”  And  they  all  denounced  him,  “You  are  a thief 
and  a liar!  You  shall  not  join  with  us  any  more  in  the  same 
town.  ” 

Leopard  went  away  in  wrath  saying,  “Do  you  prove  it  on 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


163 


me?  Well  then!  all  you  beasts,  whenever  and  wherever  I 
shall  meet  you,  it  will  be  only  to  eat  you!” 

So,  leopards  are  always  enemies  to  all  other  animals,  and 
they  kill  them  whenever  they  are  able. 


TALE  21 

Is  the  Bat  a Bird  or  a Beast? 

Persons 

Ndemi  (Bat)  and  his  Mother  Vyadu  (Antelope) 
Joba  (The  Sun)  Hako  (Ants) 

Other  Animals  and  Birds 


NOTE 

In  Tropical  Africa,  it  is  not  usual  to  retain  a corpse  unbur- 
ied as  long  as  24  hours.  Bat  retained  his  mother’s  corpse 
too  long.  The  “Driver”  Ants  of  that  country  are  natural 
scavengers. 

A reason  why  bats  are  not  seen  in  the  day  time: — Also, 
why  they  make  their  plaintive  cry  at  night,  as  if  they  were 
calling  for  their  mother. 


Bat  lived  at  a place  by  itself,  with  only  its  mother.  Shortly 
after  their  settling  there,  the  mother  became  sick,  very  near 
to  death.  Bat  called  for  Antelope,  and  said  to  him,  “Make 
medicine  for  my  mother.”  Antelope  looked  steadily  at  her 
to  discern  her  disease.  Then  he  told  Bat,  “There  is  no  one 
who  can  make  the  medicine  that  will  cure  your  mother, 
except  Joba.”  Having  given  this  information,  Antelope 
returned  to  his  own  place. 

On  another  day,  early  in  the  morning,  Bat  arose  to  go  to 
call  Sun.  He  did  not  start  until  about  seven  o’clock.  He 
met  Sun  on  the  road  about  eleven  o’clock.  And  he  said  to 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Sun,  “My  journey  was  on  the  way  to  see  you.”  Sun  told 
him,  “If  you  have  a word  to  say,  speak!”  So  Bat  requested, 
“ Come ! make  Medicine  for  my  mother.  She  is  sick.  ” But 
Sun  replied,  “I  can’t  go  to  make  medicine  unless  you  meet 
me  in  my  house;  not  here  on  the  road.  Go  back;  and  come 
to  me  at  my  house  tomorrow.”  So,  Bat  went  back  to  his 
town. 

And  the  day  darkened.  And  they  all  slept  their  sleep. 

And  the  next  day  broke.  At  six  o’clock,  Bat  started  to  go 
to  call  Sun.  About  nine  o’clock,  he  met  Sun  on  the  path;  and 
he  told  Sun  what  he  was  come  for.  But  Sun  said  to  him, 
“Whenever  I emerge  from  my  house,  I do  not  go  back,  but 
I keep  on  to  the  end  of  my  journey.  Go  back,  for  another 
day.  ” Bat  returned  to  his  town. 

He  made  other  journeys  in  order  to  see  Sun  at  his  house, 
five  successive  days ; and  every  day  he  was  late,  and  met  Sun 
already  on  the  way  of  his  own  journey  for  his  own  business. 

Finally,  on  the  seventh  day,  Bat’s  mother  died.  Then 
Bat,  in  his  grief,  said,  “It  is  Joba  who  has  killed  my  mother! 
Had  he  made  medicine  for  me,  she  would  have  recovered.” 

Very  many  people  came  together  that  day  in  a crowd,  at 
the  Kwedi  (mourning)  for  the  dead.  The  wailing  was  held 
from  six  o’clock  in  the  morning  until  eleven  o’clock  of  the 
next  day.  At  that  hour,  Bat  announced,  “Let  her  be  taken 
to  the  grave.”  He  called  other  Beasts  to  go  into  the  house 
together  with  him,  in  order  to  carry  the  corpse.  They  took 
up  the  body,  and  carried  it  on  the  way  to  the  grave. 

On  their  arrival  at  the  grave,  these  Beasts  said  to  Bat, 
“We  have  a rule  that,  before  we  bury  a person,  we  must  first 
look  upon  the  face.  ” (To  identify  it).  So,  they  opened  the 
coffin.  When  they  had  looked  on  the  face,  they  said,  “No! 
we  can’t  bury  this  person;  for,  it  is  not  our  relative,  it  does 
not  belong  to  us  Beasts.  This  person  indeed  resembles  us 
in  having  teeth  like  us.  And  it  also  has  a head  like  us. 
But,  that  it  has  wings,  makes  it  look  like  a bird.  It  is  a bird. 
Call  for  the  Birds!  We  will  disperse.”  So,  they  dispersed. 

Then  Bat  called  the  Birds  to  come.  They  came,  big  and 
little;  Pelicans,  Eagles,  Herons  and  all  the  others.  When 
they  all  had  come  together,  they  said  to  Bat,  “Show  us  the 
dead  body.  ” He  told  them,  “Here  it  is ! Come ! look  upon 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


165 


it!”  They  looked  and  examined  carefully.  Then  they  said, 
“Yes!  it  resembles  us;  for,  it  has  wings  as  we.  But,  about 
the  teeth,  No!  We  birds,  none  of  us,  have  any  teeth.  This 
person  does  not  resemble  us  with  those  teeth.  It  does  not 
belong  to  us.”  And  all  the  Birds  stepped  aside. 

During  the  while  that  the  talking  had  been  going  on,  Ants 
had  come  and  laid  hold  of  the  body,  and  could  not  be  driven 
away.  Then  one  of  the  Birds  said  to  Bat,  “I  told  you, 
you  ought  not  to  delay  the  burial,  for,  many  things  might 
happen.”  The  Ants  had  eaten  the  body  and  there  was  no 
burial.  And  all  the  birds  and  beasts  went  away. 

Bat,  left  alone,  said  to  himself,  “All  the  fault  of  all  this 
trouble  is  because  of  Joba.  If  he  had  made  medicine,  my 
mother  would  not  be  dead.  So,  I,  Ndemi,  and  Joba  shall 
not  look  on  each  other.  We  shall  have  no  friendship.  If  he 
emerges,  I shall  hide  myself.  I won’t  meet  him  or  look  at 
him.  ” And  he  added,  “ I shall  mourn  for  my  mother  always. 
I will  make  no  visits.  I will  walk  about  only  at  night,  not  in 
the  daytime,  lest  I meet  Joba  or  other  people.  ” 


TALE  22 

Dog,  and  His  Human  Speech  (1st  Version) 
Persons 

Mbwa  (Dog),  and  His  Mother  A Man  Njambo,  and  Daugh- 
ter Eyale 


NOTE 

In  the  pre-historic  times,  from  which  these  tales  come,  all 
animals,  both  human  and  (what  we  now  call)  the  lower 
animals,  were  supposed  to  associate  together,  even  in  mar- 
riage. This  son  Mbwa,  in  form  (and  speaking  also)  like  what 
we  now  call  a “Dog,”  spoke  also  with  human  speech.  The 
reason  is  here  given  why  this  ancestor  of  Dogs  left  the  country 
of  the  Beasts.  But,  though  Dogs  now  live  with  Mankind, 
they  cannot  use  human  speech  as  their  ancestor  did.  They 
can  only  say  “Ow!  Ow!” 


166 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Dog  and  his  mother  were  the  only  inhabitants  of  their 
hamlet.  He  had  the  power  to  speak  both  as  a beast  and  as 
a human  being. 

One  day  the  mother  said  to  the  son,  “You  are  now  a strong 
man;  go,  and  seek  a marriage.  Go,  and  marry  Eyale,  the 
daughter  of  Njambo. ” And  he  said  to  his  mother,  “I  will  go 
tomorrow.  ” 

That  day  darkened.  And  they  both  went  to  lie  down  in 
their  places  for  sleep. 

Then  soon,  another  day  began  to  break. 

Dog  said  to  his  mother,  “This  is  the  time  of  my  journey.” 
It  was  about  sun-rise  in  the  morning.  And  he  began  his 
journey.  He  went  the  distance  of  about  eight  miles;  and 
arrived  at  the  journey’s  end  before  the  middle  of  the  morning. 

He  entered  the  house  of  Njambo,  the  father  of  Eyale. 
Njambo  and  his  wife  saluted  him,  “ Mbolo ! ” and  he  respond- 
ed, “Ai!  mbolo!”  Njambo  asked  him,  “ My  friend ! what  is 
the  cause  of  your  journey?  ” Dog,  with  his  animal  language, 
answered,  “1  have  come  to  marry  your  daughter  Eyale.” 
Njambo  consented;  and  the  mother  of  the  girl  also  agreed. 
They  called  their  daughter,  and  asked  her;  and  she  also  replied, 
“Yes!  with  all  my  heart.”  This  young  woman  was  of  very 
fine  appearance  in  face  and  body.  So,  all  the  parties  agreed 
to  the  marriage. 

After  that,  about  sun-set  in  the  evening,  when  they  sat 
down  at  supper,  the  son-in-law,  Dog,  was  not  able  to  eat 
for  some  unknown  reason. 

That  day  darkened;  and  they  went  to  their  sleep. 

And,  then,  the  next  daylight  broke.  But,  by  an  hour 
after  sunrise  in  the  morning,  Dog  had  not  risen;  he  was 
still  asleep. 

The  mother  of  the  woman  said  to  her,  “Get  some  water 
ready  for  the  washing  of  your  husband’s  face,  whenever  he 
shall  awake.”  She  also  said  to  her  daughter,  “I  am  going 
to  go  into  the  forest  to  the  plantation  to  get  food  for  your 
husband;  for,  since  his  coming,  he  has  not  eaten.  Also, 
here  is  a chicken;  the  lads  may  kill  and  prepare  it.  But, 
you  yourself  must  split  nganda  (gourd-seeds,  whose  oily 
kernels  are  mashed  into  a pudding).  She  handed  Eyale  the 
dish  of  gourd-seeds,  and  went  off  into  the  forest.  Njambo 
also  went  away  on  an  errand  with  his  wife.  The  daughter 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


167 


took  the  dish  of  seeds,  and,  sitting  down,  began  to  shell  them. 
As  she  shelled,  she  threw  the  kernels  on  the  ground,  but  the 
shells  she  put  on  a plate. 

Shortly  after  the  mother  had  gone.  Dog  woke  from  sleep. 
He  rose  from  his  bed,  and  came  out  to  the  room  where  his 
wife  was,  and  stood  near  her,  watching  her  working  at  the 
seeds.  He  stood  silent,  looking  closely,  and  observed  that 
she  was  still  throwing  away  the  kernels,  the  good  part,  and 
saving  the  shells  on  the  plate.  He  spoke  to  her  with  his 
human  voice,  “No!  woman!  not  so!  Do  you  throw  the  good 
parts,  to  the  ground,  and  the  worthless  husks  onto  the  plate?  ” 
While  he  was  thus  speaking  to  his  wife,  she  suddenly  fell  to 
the  ground.  And  at  once  she  died.  He  laid  hold  of  her  to 
lift  her  up.  But,  behold!  she  was  a corpse. 

Soon  afterwards,  the  father  and  the  mother  came,  having 
returned  from  their  errands.  They  found  their  child  a 
corpse;  and  they  said  to  Dog,  “Mbwa!  What  is  this?,, 
He,  with  his  own  language  replied,  “I  cannot  tell.”  But, 
they  insisted,  “Tell  us  the  reason!” 

So  Dog  spoke  with  his  human  voice,  “You,  Woman,  went 
to  the  forest  while  I was  asleep.  You,  Man,  you  also  went 
in  company  of  your  wife,  while  I was  asleep.  When  I rose 
from  sleep,  I found  my  wife  was  cracking  nganda.  She  was 
taking  the  good  kernels  to  throw  on  the  ground,  and  was 
keeping  the  shells  for  the  plate.  And  I spoke  and  told  her, 
‘ The  good  kernels  which  you  are  throwing  on  the  ground  are 
to  be  eaten,  not  the  husks.  ’ ” 

While  he  was  telling  them  this,  they  too,  also  fell  to  the 
ground,  and  died,  apparently  without  cause. 

When  the  people  of  the  towm  heard  about  all  this,  they  said, 
“This  person  carries  an  evil  Medicine  for  killing  people. 
Let  him  be  seized  and  killed! ” 

So  Dog  fled  away  rapidly  into  the  forest;  and  he  finally 
reached  the  hamlet  of  his  mother.  His  body  was  scratched 
and  torn  by  the  branches  and  thorns  of  the  bushes  of  the 
forest,  in  his  hasty  flight.  His  mother  exclaimed,  “Mbwa! 
What’s  the  matter?  Such  haste!  and  your  body  so  disorder- 
ed!” He  replied,  using  their  own  language,  “No!  I won’t 
tell  you.  I won’t  speak.”  But,  his  mother  begged  him, 
“Please!  my  child!  tell  me!”  So,  finally,  he  spoke,  using 
his  strange  voice,  and  said,  “ My  mother ! I tell  you ! Njambo 


168 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


and  his  wife  liked  me  for  the  marriage;  and  the  woman  con- 
sented entirely.  I was  at  that  time  asleep,  when  the  Man 
and  his  wife  went  to  the  forest.  When  I rose  from  my  sleep, 
I found  the  woman  Eyale  cracking  nganda,  and  throwing 
away  the  kernels,  and  keeping  the  husks.  And  I told  her, 
‘The  good  ones  which  you  are  throwing  away  are  the  ones 
to  be  eaten.’  And,  at  once  she  died.  ” 

While  he  was  speaking  thus  to  his  mother,  she  also  fell 
dead  on  the  ground.  The  news  was  carried  to  the  town  of 
Dog’s  mother’s  brother,  and  very  many  people  came  to  the 
Mourning.  His  Uncle  came  to  Dog,  and  said,  “Mbwa! 
what  is  the  reason  of  all  this?”  But  Dog  would  not  answer. 
He  only  said,  “No!  I won’t  speak.”  Then  they  all  begged 
him,  “Tell  us  the  reason.”  But  he  replied  only,  “No!  I 
won’t  speak.  ” 

Finally,  as  they  urged  him,  he  chose  two  of  them,  and 
said  to  the  company,  “The  rest  of  you  remain  here,  and 
watch  while  I go  and  speak  to  these  two.  ” Then  Dog  spoke 
to  those  two  men  with  the  same  voice  as  he  had  to  his  mother. 
And,  at  once  they  died,  as  she  had  died.  Then  he  exclaimed, 
“Ah!  No!  If  I speak  so,  people  will  come  to  an  end!”  And 
all  the  people  agreed,  “Yes,  Mbwa!  it  is  so.  Your  human 
speech  kills  us  people.  Don’t  speak  any  more.” 

And  he  went  away  to  live  with  Mankind. 


TALE  22 

Dog,  and  His  Human  Speech  (2nd  Version) 
Persons 


Njambo,  His  Wife  Nyangwa- 
Mbwa,  and  His  Son  Mbwa 
(Dog) 

The  Prophet,  Totode,  and  a 
Sorcerer,  Nja-Ya-Melema- 
Mya-Bato 


His  Three  Other  Wives, 

( Majanga, 
j Inyanji, 

( Mamendi;  and  Her  Two 
Twins. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


169 


NOTE 

Some  African  ant-hills  are  built  in  upright  pillars,  varying 
in  diameter  from  3 to  10  inches,  and  in  height  from  1 ft.  to  3 
ft. 

The  bearing  of  a monstrosity  formerly  was  punished  (and 
in  some  tribes  still)  by  driving  the  mother  into  seclusion  in 
the  forest,  and  generally  with  killing  of  the  child.  In  some 
tribes,  twins  were  considered  monstrosities. 

The  “Heart-beat”  of  Nyangwe-Mbwa  was  the  commonly 
believed  premonition  of  coming  evil. 

There  are  many  kinds  of  food,  of  which  women  are  not 
allowed  to  partake. 

Though  the  three  sisters  were  daughters  of  the  same 
mother,  the  jealousy  of  two  of  them  for  the  other  one  led 
them  to  hatred,  and  an  attempt  at  murder.  Their  curse 
laid  on  Mbwa  caused  him  to  be  a speechless  beast;  for,  previ- 
ous to  that,  he  was  talking  as  a human  being.  “Heart- 
life”  is  an  entity  distinct  from  both  Body  and  Soul. 


Njambu  married  a woman  named  Nyangwa-Mbwa.  She 
bore  a creature  that  looked  like  no  animal  that  existed  at 
that  time.  But,  because  he  spoke  as  a human  being,  he  was 
not  considered  a Beast.  He  was  given  part  of  his  mother’s 
name,  Mbwa. 

Njambu  added  other  marriages.  Among  them  he  ob- 
tained three  women,  each  one  of  whom  had  a special  office. 
That  of  Majanga  was  to  keep  things  clean.  That  of  Inyanji 
for  planting.  Mamendi  said  that  her  work  should  be  to  bear 
twins.  Now,  these  three  women  were  sisters.  The  other 
two  were  jealous  of  Mamendi,  because  her  work  was  greater 
and  more  honorable  than  their ’s. 

In  the  course  of  time,  Mamendi  conceived;  her  pregnancy 
went  regularly  on.  And  the  time  for  her  confinement  came. 
Majanga  and  Inyanji  went  to  deliver  her.  But  they  tied  a 
napkin  over  her  face,  and  covered  her  eyes  lest  she  should 
see  what  they  would  do  to  her.  When  the  time  of  the  birth 
was  at  hand,  she  bore  twins. 


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Then  Inyanji  and  Majanga  threw  the  twins  into  the  pig- 
pen. And  they  took  two  ant-hills  (slender  conical  structures) . 
They  smeared  them  with  blood.  And  they  went  and  showed 
them  to  Njambu  as  the  things  which  Mamendi  had  borne. 
Njambu  said,  “Go!  and  throw  those  things  into  the  forest.” 

But  Mbwa  was  going  about ; and  as  he  went,  he  was  scent- 
ing, till  he  came  to  the  pig-pen;  and  he  saw  the  twins.  He 
took  them,  and  carried  them  to  his  mother  in  their  hut, 
which  was  isolated  from  the  town.  When  the  two  women 
had  left  the  twins  in  the  pig-pen,  their  intention  was  that 
the  pigs  might  kill  them;  and  the  women  did  not  know  that 
Mbwa  had  removed  them.  The  twins  stayed  with  Nyangwa- 
Mbwa,  and  she  fed  them  and  nursed  them. 

But,  when  Majanga  and  Inyanji  heard  that  those  children 
were  in  the  hamlet  of  Mbwa’s  mother,  they  said,  “We  will 
go  there  tomorrow. 

Early  in  the  morning,  Nyangwa-Mbwa  had  gone  to  the 
forest  to  her  garden.  When  the  two  women  came;  they 
found  the  twins  lying  down.  So,  they  struck  them  a blow; 
and  they  died. 

The  while  that  Nyangwa-Mbwa  was  in  the  forest,  her  heart 
beat  with  anxiety.  She  at  once  picked  up  her  basket,  and 
came  to  her  village,  and  found  the  corpses  of  both  the  twins. 
Then  she  began  to  cry. 

Mbwa  also  came,  and  found  the  dead  bodies  stretched  out. 
Right  away,  he  knew  what  had  happened.  So  he  went  to 
the  Prophet  Totode,  and  inquired  what  he  should  do.  Tot  ode 
asked  him,  “Are  you  able  to  go  to  the  town  of  Doctor  Nja- 
ya-melema-mya-bato  ? (Hunger-for-the-hearts-of -people) . ” 

He  agreed  “ Yes,  I will  go  there.  ” Then  he  went  to  the  town 
of  the  Doctor. 

A child  of  the  Doctor  spoke  to  Mbwa,  and  asked, “What 
have  you  come  to  do?”  He  answered,  “I  have  come  to 
seek  heart-life;  because  my  father’s  wives  have  killed  from 
me  two  children.  ” 

Already  Nja-ya-melema-mya-batohad  goneto  killpeoplefor 
himself.  In  a little  while  he  returned  and  suddenly,  pieces 
of  meat  (from  the  dead  bodies)  began  to  fall,  kidi ! kidi ! being 
thrown  out  on  the  ground  in  the  street.  Mbwa,  awaiting  a 
chance,  hid  himself  under  a bed. 

Then  came  the  Doctor  bringing  in  the  heart-lives  of  the 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


171 


men  he  had  killed.  Mbwa,  without  permission,  seized  two 
of  the  hearts,  and  ran  out  quickly.  Nja-ya-melema-mya-bato 
followed  after  him,  running  rapidly,  da!  da!  da!  But  he  did 
not  overtake  Mbwa. 

Mbwa  ran  in  haste  with  the  hearts,  on  to  his  village.  There 
he  thrust  the  new  lives  into  the  children.  The  twins  arose 
again  to  life  and  stood,  to  show  themselves,  and  then  they 
sat  down. 

Those  twins  went  on  growing,  and  became  stout  young 
men. 

One  day  they  said  to  Mbwa,  “We  want  guns.”  He  went 
to  his  father,  in  the  town,  and  said,  “I  want  two  guns.” 
His  father  produced  two  guns  for  him.  He  took  them,  went 
to  his  home,  and  handed  them  to  the  twins.  Then  they 
tried  the  guns,  and  loaded  them. 

Next  day,  in  the  morning,  they  went  out  early  to  hunt; 
they  killed  two  gazelles;  and  they  took  them  to  their  village. 
Mbwa  cut  up  one  of  the  beasts;  and  he  said  to  his  mother, 
“Cook  it.  ” Then  he  took  the  other  one  to  his  father.  His 
father  cut  it  up;  and  he  called  Majanga  and  Inyanji;  and, 
dividing  the  meat,  he  said  to  them,  “Go  ye,  and  cook  these 
in  the  pot,  and  those  in  a jomba.  ” (Mbwa  himself  was  still 
in  the  house  watching  them.)  They  boiled,  and  cooked; 
they  put  in  the  salt  and  pepper;  and  were  about  to  taste 
the  soup  when  Mbwa  said,  “Not  so!  This  meat  is  not  to  be 
eaten  by  women.  ” 

They  took  the  food  to  the  Reception-house,  where  their 
husband  Njambu  ate;  and  he  laid  aside  some  for  them.  But, 
what  he  laid  aside  for  those  women,  Mbwa  drew  away  and 
ate.  Then  he  returned  to  his  home.  His  mother  made 
food;  and  they  ate,  all  four  of  them. 

Next  morning,  the  twins  returned  to  their  hunting.  They 
killed  also  three  antelopes,  and  they  carried  them  to  take 
them  to  their  home,  and  left  them  in  the  path  on  the  way 
outside  of  the  village.  In  the  village,  they  said  to  Mbwa, 
“Go,  and  bring  the  beasts  from  the  forest.” 

Mbwa  started,  and  brought  them  to  the  village.  He 
carried  two  to  his  father.  His  brothers  exclaimed,  “ Where 
does  Mbwa  kill  all  those  animals?”  His  father  cut  up  the 
animals,  and  divided  one  with  his  children.  He  cut  up  the 
other,  saying,  “This  belongs  to  myself.”  Then  he  prepared 


172 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


some  to  be  cooked  in  momba  (bundles  tied  in  plantain  leaves), 
and  some  to  be  dried,  and  some  to  be  boiled. 

The  women  boiled  the  food  (Mbwa  still  watching  them). 
When  it  was  cooked,  they  lifted  up  the  pot  from  the  fire,  and 
they  were  about  to  taste  it,  when  Mbwa  said,  “No!  you 
must  not  taste  it!”  They  put  it  in  bowls,  and  set  the  food 
before  their  husband;  and  he  ate.  When  he  was  about  to 
give  some  to  his  wives,  Mbwa  said,  “Not  so!” 

The  twins  continued  with  their  hunting  just  the  same  as 
at  the  first.  Almost  every  day  they  were  killing  some  animal. 
And  MbwTa  continued  also  wTith  carrying  meat  to  the  town 
of  his  father. 

Finally,  the  twins  became  full-grown  men.  Then  Mbwa 
said  to  himself,  “Now,  I’m  ready  to  bring  this  matter  to  the 
ears  of  the  people.”  When  another  day  came,  he  said  to 
his  father,  “Tomorrow7,  call  all  the  people  of  the  town  to- 
gether, in  the  afternoon.  ” 

On  the  next  day,  his  father  did  so.  Mbwa  dressed  the 
twins  very  finely;  and  brought  out  three  chairs,  two  for  the 
twdns,  and  one  for  his  mother.  All  the  people  collected 
together.  Thereupon,  he  brought  forward  his  mother,  and 
the  twdns.  The  people  fixed  their  eyes  on  them;  for  they 
had  not  seen  them  in  their  little  hamlet  in  the  forest.  The 
people  exclaimed,  “What  fine-looking  persons!” 

Then  Mbwa  stood  up.  He  said,  “Ye  people!  I have 
called  you  all  that  ye  may  recognize  these  two  young  men.  ” 
The  people  said  that  they  did  not  know  them.  He  con- 
tinued, “These  are  my  father’s  children.  For,  my  father 
had  married  these  three  women.  Also,  they  had  three 
duties;  Majanga,  her  duty  of  keeping  the  house  clean;  Iny- 
anji,  her  duty  of  planting;  and  Mamendi’s  was  the  bearing 
of  twins.  Mamendi  became  a mother.  On  the  day  of  her 
confinement,  her  two  sisters  went  to  deliver  her.  They  took 
a napkin  and  covered  her  eyes.  And  she  bore  these  two 
twins.  They  threw  them  inside  the  pig-pen.  And  they 
took  two  small  earthen  pillars  instead,  and  they  went  and 
showed  them  to  their  husband.  Then,  I entered  the  pig- 
pen; and  I took  these  children  out;  and  brought  them  to  my 
mother.  So,  these  children  grew  up.  And  they  began 
hunting.  You,  my  father,  you  remember  when  I brought 
you  the  wild  meat,  and  you  were  about  to  give  to  these 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


173 


women;  but,  I went  and  took  away  the  food.  The  reason  is, 
because  they  are  the  ones  who  tried  to  kill  the  children.  I 
brought  them  up  from  childhood  to  be  men  as  now.  So, 
this  caused  me  to  bring  this  case  before  the  presence  of  all 
people;  for,  I say  that  those  two  women  were  murderesses. 
So,  then,  my  father,  these  are  your  children;  but,  if  you 
retain  those  women,  these  two  twins  shall  not  be  your  sons.  ” 

Upon  this,  the  father  of  Mbwa  said,  “ Catch  ye  both  of  the 
women!”  And  they  were  bound  in  that  self-same  hour. 
(They  had  supposed  that  the  twins  had  died  when  they  had 
struck  them  in  the  hamlet  of  Mbwa’s  mother.)  They  could 
not  deny.  In  their  anger,  as  they  were  led  away,  they  called 
out  to  Mbwa,  “Mbwa-O!”  He  assented,  “Eh?  What  is 
it?”  They  replied  in  anger,  for  having  informed  on  them. 
And  they  laid  a curse  on  him,  saying,  “You  will  never  speak 
again  with  the  voice  of  a human  being.  You  shall  be  a dumb 
beast.  ” 

But,  the  people  took  them,  to  be  thrown  into  the  depth 
of  the  sea. 


TALE  23 

The  Savior  of  the  Animals 
Persons 


Njambo  and  Wife 
and  Son  Utigebodi 
Ngwayi  (Partridge) 
The  Prophet  Njambi 
Yungu  (Eagle) 

Etoli  (Rat) 


Njaku  (Elephant) 
Nyati  (Ox) 

Kudu  (Tortoise) 

Nja  (Leopard) 
Ngomba  (Porcupine) 
Inani  (Bird) 


NOTE 

This  story  plays  on  the  meaning  of  the  name  U-tige-bode. 
It  is  an  ancient  word,  not  now  used,  meaning,  “He-Who- 
Saves-People. ” In  the  Son’s  given  name;  his  saving  of 
the  unworthy,  in  response  to  their  appeals  for  mercy;  his 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


bearing  of  his  father’s  wrath;  his  punishment  on  a tree;  the 
derision  of  the  very  passers  by,  for  whom  he  was  to  die,  I 
think  the  legend  echoes,  even  though  faintly,  the  story  of 
the  Christ. 


Njambo  married  two  women.  He  begot  twenty-three 
children.  And  they  all  died.  Also  one  of  the  wives  died. 
There  were  left  only  himself,  and  one  wife. 

The  woman  was  old,  and  the  man  also  was  old.  But, 
the  woman  was  again  to  become  a mother;  and,  at  the  proper 
time,  she  bore  a child.  The  child  was  a male.  The  woman 
called  the  husband,  saying,  “Come!  and  give  your  boy  a 
name.”  The  husband  said,  “The  name  of  the  child  is 
Utigebode.  ” 

After  this,  the  child  grew  to  be  a large  man.  One  day,  he 
said  to  his  father,  “ Paia ! I ’m  going  to  set  snares  in  the  forest.” 
The  father  replied,  “Yes!  go!  and  catch  me  food!”  He 
went.  And  he  returned  that  morning.  In  the  afternoon, 
he  went  back  to  examine  the  snares.  And  he  found  that 
two  Partridges  were  caught.  He  exclaimed,  “I’m  very  glad! 
My  father  shall  eat  one  today,  and  the  other  shall  be  kept  for 
tomorrow.”  Then  the  Partridges  asked  him,  “What  is 
your  name?”  He  answered,  “ One-Who-Saves-People.  ” 
Then  the  Partridges  said,  “If  that  is  so,  why  are  you  about 
to  kill  us?” 

On  another  day,  in  the  morning,  he  went  again  to  examine 
his  snares.  And  he  found  two  Antelope  (Tragelephas).  He 
was  glad;  and  he  said,  “I  feel  very  good!  My  father  shall 
eat  one;  and  the  other  can  be  cooked  for  another  day.  ” The 
Antelopes  asked  him,  “What’s  your  name?”  He  answered, 
“One-Who-Saves-People.”  Again,  they  asked,  “Why  then 
are  you  about  to  kill  us?”  He  replied,  “That’s  so!  Well! 
go!”  And  he  returned  to  town. 

That  afternoon  he  went  out  again,  and  found  two  Gazelles. 
And  he  said,  “I’ll  take  these  two  to  town  at  once;  and  my 
father  shall  eat  one  today,  and  the  other  tomorrow.”  But 
the  Gazelles  said,  “No ! — you  are  the  One-Who-Saves-People ! 
Why  then  should  you  kill  us?”  So  he  loosed  them,  and  let 
them  go. 

He  did  the  same  way  to  two  Elephants.  And  with  two 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


175 


Oxen.  At  another  time  he  found  two  Tortoises.  And  the 
Tortoises  spoke  to  him  as  had  done  the  others.  And  on 
another  day,  he  found  two  Leopards.  And,  he  released  the 
Leopards,  in  the  same  way.  At  another  time,  two  Porcu- 
pines, in  the  same  way. 

One  after  another,  almost  all  the  Beasts  were  thus  trapped 
and  released.  There  was  not  one  beast  brought  by  Utigebode 
to  his  village;  he  freed  them  all. 

So,  his  father  said  to  him,  “My  child!  since  you  have  set 
your  snares,  I have  not  seen  you  bring  in  a single  beast, 
even  an  Etoli.  What  are  you  doing?  I shall  change  your 
name.  For,  now  that  I am  old,  it  is  right  for  you  to  save 
me,  and  help  me  with  food.” 

Utigebode  replied  evasively,  “Since  I set  the  snares,  I 
have  not  caught  even  a Inani.  ” The  father  said,  “Well!  if 
it  is  true  that  you  have  not  killed  any  Beast  or  Bird,  I will 
know  tomorrow.  ” 

The  next  day  broke;  and  the  father  went  to  the  village  of 
Prophet  Njambi.  The  Prophet  saluted  him,  “What  have 
you  come  for?”  Njambo  replied,  “I  come  to  you  for  you 
to  tell  me  about  my  son,  whether  in  his  hunting  he  kills  beasts, 
or  whether  he  does  not.”  Njambi  answered,  “He  snares 
them  constantly;  but,  because  of  the  name  you  gave  him, 
he  saves  the  lives  of  the  people  of  the  tribes  of  Beasts.  ” 

The  prophet  added,  “If  there  be  a doubt,  I will  show  you 
a way  to  prove  my  words.  When  you  go  back  to  town 
you  will  meet  Iheli  at  the  end  of  the  village.  When  you 
meet  with  him,  call  for  the  people  to  set  nets  to  catch  him. 
But,  yourself  shall  stand  and  watch  what  the  Beast  does 
before  your  eyes.  ” 

Njambo  arose  to  go,  and  bade  goodbye,  saying,  “This  is 
my  return  journey  to  my  village.  ” 

And  it  was  so  that,  on  nearing  the  end  of  the  village,  he 
met  with  Gazelle.  Njambo  shouted,  “Men!  spread  your 
nets ! Here  is  a Beast ! Let  us  catch  it ! ” His  men  brought 
their  nets,  and  began  to  surround  Gazelle.  And  the  son 
Utigebode  came  to  assist.  The  men  were  shouting,  “Ha-ha! 
Ha-ha!”  to  frighten  the  animal  towards  the  nets.  Gazelle 
looked  forward,  watching  Utigebode  closely;  and  it  said  to 
itself,  “If  I go  toward  the  nets,  I shall  be  caught;  but,  I will 
go  toward  Utigebode  and  shall  be  saved.  ” 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


So,  Gazelle  ran  toward  Utigebode,  and  he  caught  it  as  if 
to  kill  it.  But  Gazelle  cried  out,  “Eh!  Utigebode!  you , the 
savior,  will  you  be  the  one  to  kill  me?”  So,  Utigebode 
said,  “Pass  on!  for,  it  is  true  that  I am  The-One-Who- 
Saves.  ” And  Gazelle  fled  to  the  forest. 

Then  Njambo  was  very  angry,  and  said  to  Utigebode, 
“Ah!  my  child!  I have  found  you  in  your  falsehood!  Was 
it  not  you  who  said  you  caught  no  Beast?  So!  you  have 
been  releasing  them!” 

Then  the  company  all  went  back  to  their  village  with  their 
nets.  They  arrived  there  during  the  daytime.  And  the 
father  ordered  his  son,  “Go!  climb  that  coco  tree,  and  bring 
me  a nut.”  The  son  began  to  climb  the  tree.  But,  as  he 
climbed,  the  father,  by  Magic-Power,  caused  the  tree  to  grow 
rapidly  upward.  When,  finally,  Utigebode  reached  the  top, 
he  was  unable  to  come  down  the  excessively  long  tree- trunk. 
He  began  to  call  to  his  father  for  help,  “My  father!”  But 
the  father  was  still  very  angry,  and  replied,  “Call  your 
friends,  the  Beasts  and  Birds,  to  save  you.  I will  not  help 
you.”  And  Njambo  went  to  sit  down  in  his  village,  leaving 
his  son  in  the  treetop. 

The  son  saw  Eagle  passing,  and  he  called  to  it,  “Yungu! 
Help  me!”  Eagle  replied,  “I  am  not  able  to  carry  a Man; 
you  are  heavy;”  so,  Eagle  passed  on.  Utigebode  saw  many 
Beasts  one  after  another  passing  below,  and  he  called  to 
them,  “Save  me!”  But,  they  said,  “We  have  no  wings 
with  which  to  go  up  to  you.  How  can  we  get  you  down? 
We  are  not  Birds  that  could  let  you  down.  We  Beasts  are 
unable  to  help  you.  Do  not  expect  us.  ” 

He  was  left  there  in  the  tree-top  a period  of  two  weeks, 
living  only  on  the  coconuts;  and  then  he  died,  and  his  body 
fell  to  the  earth.  Njambo  came  out  to  see  the  corpse,  and 
he  said  to  it,  “You  have  died  through  lack  of  obedience. 
You  disobeyed  me;  and  your  beasts  did  not  help  you.” 

The  father  and  the  mother  lived  another  year  in  their 
village;  and  then  they  died,  because  they  had  no  children 
to  help  them  with  food  or  clothes.  And  the  people  came 
from  other  villages  to  bury  them. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


177 


TALE  24 


Origin  of  the  Ivory  Trade  (1st  Version) 


Persons 


King  Ukanakadi,  and  His  SonLombolokindi,  and  His  Mother, 
With  Birds  and  Other  Animals 
Tombeseki  (A  Magic-Spear) ; An  Old  Woman 
Njaku  (Elephant);  An  Ox  (A  Metamorphosed  Man) 

A Foreign  Vessel,  and  Traders 


Ukanakadi  lived  in  his  great  house,  having  with  him  his 
many  wives.  One  of  them  bore  him  a son  whom  he  named 
Lombolokindi. 

As  time  passed  on,  the  child  grew  in  size,  and  strength, 
and  skill.  Because  of  this,  his  mother  was  treated  by  Ukana- 
kadi with  special  favor.  This  aroused  the  jealousy  of  one 
of  the  other  wives.  She  took  the  child  one  day,  and  secretly 
gave  him  a certain  evil  medicine,  which  caused  him  to  be 
constantly  hungry,  hungry,  hungry.  Even  when  he  ate 
enormously,  no  amount  of  food  could  fill  his  stomach  or 
satisfy  his  appetite. 

Ukanakadi  finally  was  angry  at  the  child,  and  said  to  the 
mother,  “All  the  food  of  my  plantations  is  finished,  eaten  up 
by  your  child.  We  have  no  more  plantains,  no  more  cassava, 
no  more  eddoes,  nor  anything  else  in  our  plantations  or  in 
our  kitchen-gardens.  You  have  brought  a curse  upon  us! 
Go  away  to  your  father’s  house!”  (He  said  this,  not  know- 
ing that  a Fetish-Medicine  had  caused  all  the  trouble.) 

So  the  mother  went  away  with  her  child  to  her  father’s 
house.  But  there  too,  the  boy  ate  up  all  the  food  of  the 
gardens,  until  there  was  none  left.  Then  her  father  said  to 
her,  “All  my  food  is  done  here;  go  with  your  child  to  your 
grandfather,  and  find  food  there.” 

So,  she  went  to  her  grandfather’s.  But  there  the  same 
trouble  followed. 

After  she  had  been  there  some  time,  and  the  child  was  now 
a stout  lad,  and  she  saw  that  they  were  no  longer  welcome, 


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she  said  to  herself,  “Alas!  it  is  so!  All  my  people  are  weary 
of  me!  I will  not  longer  stay  at  grandfather’s.  I will  go 
wandering  into  the  forest,  and,  with  the  child,  will  see  what 
I can  get.  ” 

Taking  with  her  only  two  ears  of  corn,  she  went  far  off 
with  the  lad  into  the  forest.  After  much  wandering,  and 
eating  only  wild  fruits,  she  selected  a spot  without  having 
any  idea  of  the  locality,  and  built  a shed  for  a camp  in  which 
to  stay.  At  this  place,  she  planted  the  corn.  It  quickly 
sprang  up,  and  bore  abundantly.  And  she  planted  other 
gardens.  After  a time  came  very  many  birds;  and  they 
began  to  eat  up  the  corn.  She  exclaimed,  “My  son  and  I 
alone  have  come  here,  and  have  planted  our  corn.  How  is 
this  that  all  the  birds  have  come  so  soon  to  destroy  it?” 
And  the  son,  who  by  this  time  had  grown  to  be  almost  a 
young  man,  said  to  her,  “Mother,  why  do  you  allow  the 
birds  to  eat?  Why  don’t  you  do  something?”  She  replied, 
“ Why  do  the  birds  thus  destroy  the  corn?  What  can  I do?  ” 
So  he  came  out  of  the  shed  into  the  yard  in  front  of  their 
house  and  shouted  at  the  birds,  “You  birds!  who  have  come 
here  to  spoil  my  corn,  with  this  stick  I will  kill  you  all!” 
But  the  birds  jeered  at  him,  saying,  “No!  not  all!  Only 
one  shall  die!” 

The  young  man  went  into  the  house,  took  up  a magic 
spear-head  he  owned,  fitted  it  onto  a stick  as  a shaft;  and 
going  out  again,  he  hurled  it  at  the  birds.  The  spear  flew 
at  them,  pursuing  each  one,  and  piercing  every  one  of  them 
in  succession.  Then  it  flew  on  and  on,  away  out  into  the 
forest. 

The  young  man  took  up  another  medicine-charm  that  he 
had  with  him,  and,  calling  to  his  spear  by  name,  shouted 
after  it,  “ Tombeseki-o-o ! Come  back,  back,  back,  Here! 
again,  again,  again,  Return!”  The  spear  heard  him,  and 
obeyed,  and  came  back.  He  laid  hold  of  it,  and  put  it 
again  in  the  shed.  So,  he  and  his  mother  lived  there.  She 
planted  a very  large  garden  of  plantains,  cassava,  and  many 
other  vegetables,  a very  large  quantity.  And  her  gardens 
grew,  and  bore  fruit  in  plenty. 

Then  there  came  all  kinds  of  small  Animals,  hogs,  and 
antelopes,  and  gazelles,  very  many;  and  they  spoiled  the 
gardens,  eating  the  fruit,  and  breaking  down  the  stalks. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


179 


The  mother  exclaimed,  “My  son!  the  animals  have  finished 
all  my  food  of  the  gardens;  everything  is  lost ! Why  is  this? ” 
He  replied,  “Yes,  it  is  so!  And  when  they  come  again 
tomorrow,  I know  what  I will  do  to  them!,’ 

When  they  came  the  next  day,  he  went  into  the  house, 
took  the  spear,  flung  it;  and  it  flew  from  beast  to  beast, 
piercing  all  of  them  in  succession.  Then  it  went  off,  flying 
into  the  forest,  as  before.  He  called  after  it  to  return. 
The  Spear  heard,  and  obeyed,  and  came  back  to  the  house. 

Then  he  and  his  mother  sat  down  in  the  house,  complain- 
ing of  their  hunger,  and  how  the  animals  had  spoiled  their 
gardens.  So  the  mother  went  out,  and  gathered  up  what 
little  remained,  brought  it  into  the  house,  and  cooked  it, 
leaves  and  all. 

When  the  mother  had  planted  a third  garden,  and  it  had 
grown,  a herd  of  elephants  came  to  destroy  it.  She  cried 
out,  “Ah!  Njaku!  what  shall  I do?  You  have  come  to 
destroy  all  my  gardens!  Shall  I die  with  hunger?”  The 
son  brought  out  his  Spear,  and  shouting  at  the  elephants, 
threatened  to  kill  them  all.  But  the  herd  laughed  and  said, 
“When  you  throw  that  spear,  only  one  of  us  shall  fall. ” He 
threw  the  spear  at  the  one  that  spoke.  It  struck  him  and 
all  the  elephants  in  succession;  and  they  all  died.  The 
Spear  kept  on  in  its  flight  into  the  forest.  The  young  man 
cried  after  it,  “Spear!  Spear!  come  back,  come  back!”  And 
it  came  to  him  again. 

Each  time  that  the  Spear  had  thus  gone  through  the  forest, 
it  had  mowed  down  the  trees  in  its  path ; and  thus  was  made 
the  clearing  which  the  mother  had  at  once  utilized  for  the 
planting  of  her  successive  gardens. 

After  the  elephants,  mother  and  son  sat  down  again  in 
their  hunger;  they  had  nothing  to  eat  but  leaves.  These 
she  cooked;  and  they  ate  them  all  at  once. 

Then  she  planted  another  garden,  thinking  that  now  there 
were  no  more  beasts  who  would  come  to  ravage.  But  she 
did  not  know  that  there  was  still  left  in  the  forest  one  very, 
very  large  Elephant  that  had  not  been  in  the  company  of  the 
herd  that  the  son  had  killed. 

There  was  also,  in  that  forest,  one  very,  very  large  Ox. 
When  the  gardens  had  grown,  that  Ox  came,  and  began  to 
destroy.  The  young  man  hurled  his  Spear  at  the  Ox.  It 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


was  wounded,  but  did  not  fall;  and  it  went  away  into  the 
forest  with  the  spear  sticking  in  its  side.  The  young  man 
pursued  the  Ox,  following,  following,  following  far  away. 
But  he  did  not  overtake  it. 

On  his  way,  he  reached  unexpectedly  a small,  lonely  hut, 
where  an  Old  Woman  was  living  by  herself.  When  she  saw 
him,  she  said  to  him,  “Do  not  follow  any  longer.  That  Ox 
was  a person  like  yourself.  He  is  dead;  and  his  people  have 
hung  up  that  Spear  in  their  house.  ” 

The  young  man  told  the  old  woman  that  he  was  very 
hungry.  So  she  cut  down  for  him  an  entire  bunch  of  plan- 
tains. He  was  so  exceedingly  hungry  that  he  could  not 
wait;  and  before  the  plantains  were  entirely  cooked,  he 
began  to  eat  of  them,  and  ate  them  all.  The  old  woman 
exclaimed,  “What  sort  of  a person  is  this  who  eats  in  this 
way?”  In  her  wisdom,  thinking  over  the  matter,  she  felt 
sure  it  was  some  disease  that  caused  his  voracity. 

The  man,  being  tired  with  his  journey,  fell  asleep;  and 
she,  by  her  magic  power,  caused  him  to  hear  or  feel  nothing. 
While  he  was  in  this  state,  she  cut  him  open.  As  she  did  so, 
his  disease  rushed  out  with  a whizzing  sound;  and  she  cut 
away,  and  removed  a tumor,  that  looked  like  a stone  of  glass. 
That  was  the  thing  that  had  caused  his  excessive  hunger  all 
his  life.  By  her  Power,  she  closed  the  wound. 

When  he  awoke,  she  cooked  food  for  him,  of  which  he  ate, 
and  was  satisfied  with  an  ordinary  amount  like  any  other 
person.  She  then  told  him  what  she  had  done,  and  said, 
“As  you  are  now  cured,  you  may  pursue  that  Ox.  You  will 
reach  his  town,  and  you  will  obtain  your  Spear.  But,  as 
you  go  there,  you  must  make  a pretense.  You  must  pretend 
that  you  are  mourning  for  the  dead.  You  must  cry  out  in 
wailing,  “Who  killed  my  Uncle-o-o!  who  killed  my  Uncle-o- 
of’ Thus  he  went  on  his  way;  and  finally  came  to  a town 
where  was  a crowd  of  people  gathered  in  and  about  a house 
of  mourning.  Beginning  to  wail,  he  went  among  the  mourn- 
ers. They  received  him,  with  the  idea  that  he  was  some 
distant  relative  who  had  come  to  attend  the  funeral.  He 
walked  up  the  street  of  this  town  of  the  Ox-Man,  and  enter- 
ing into  the  house  of  mourning,  said,  “Had  not  the  way 
been  so  long,  my  mother  also  would  have  come;  but,  I have 
come  to  look  at  that  Thing  that  killed  my  Uncle.”  They 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


181 


welcomed  him,  commended  his  devotion,  and  said,  “You 
will  not  go  today.  Stay  with  us.  Sleep  here  tonight;  and 
tomorrow  you  shall  see  and  take  away  with  you,  to  show  to 
your  mother,  that  Thing.  ” 

So,  the  next  day,  they  gave  him  the  Spear,  and  said,  “Go, 
but  do  not  delay.  Return  for  the  closing  ceremony  (the 
“Washing”)  of  the  mourning.”  He  went  away,  and  came 
again  to  the  Old  Woman.  She  said  to  him,  when  he  showed 
her  the  Spear,  “I  told  you  truly  that  you  would  obtain  it. 
But,  go  with  it  and  this  bundle  I have  made  of  the  tumor  of 
your  disease,  and  show  them  to  your  mother.” 

So  he  came  back  to  his  mother.  She  rejoiced;  and,  not 
knowing  that  he  was  cured,  she  cooked  a very  large  and 
unusually  varied  quantity  of  food,  for  his  unusual  hunger, 
two  whole  bunches  of  plantains,  and  eddoes,  and  potatoes, 
and  yams,  etc.  Of  this  he  ate  only  a little,  sufficient  for  an 
ordinary  hunger.  As  he  had  not  yet  told  her  of  his  being 
cured,  she  cried  out  in  surprise,  “What  is  this?  My  son 
will  die,  for  not  eating!”  And  she  asked  him,  “What  is 
the  matter?”  He  replied,  “No,  I have  eaten,  and  am  satis- 
fied. And,  mother,  this  bundle  is  what  I was  cured  of.” 
Then  he  told  her  of  what  that  old  woman  had  done. 

On  another  day,  that  great  Elephant  that  had  remained 
in  the  forest,  came  and  began  to  eat  in  the  garden.  The 
son  said,  “Mother!  what  shall  I do?  I thought  I had  killed 
all  the  elephants.  I did  not  know  there  was  this  great  big 
one  left!”  (Nor  did  he  just  then  know  there  were  left  a 
very  great  many  more.) 

Taking  his  Spear,  he  hurled  it,  and  wounded  the  elephant. 
It  did  not  fall,  but  went  away  with  the  Spear  in  its  side. 
The  man  followed,  followed,  followed,  pursuing  the  elephant, 
not,  as  the  other  animals  had  gone,  into  the  forest,  but  away 
toward  the  sea;  and  it  died  on  the  sea  beach.  There  the 
man  found  it  and  his  Spear. 

The  Sea  was  new  to  him ; he  had  not  seen  it  since  his  child- 
hood. He  climbed  up  on  the  elephant’s  body,  in  order  to 
see  all  around.  As  he  turned  his  eyes  seaward,  he  saw  a 
ship  coming  on  the  horizon.  Also,  the  people  on  this  ship 
were  looking  landward,  and  they  said,  “There  is  something 
standing  on  the  shore  like  a person.  Let  the  vessel  go  there, 
and  see  what  is  ashore.” 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


So,  the  ship  anchored,  and  a surf-boat  was  launched  into 
the  water  to  go  ashore.  When  the  crew  landed,  they  saw 
the  carcass  of  the  elephant,  and  a person  standing  with  a 
spear  who  warned  them,  “Do  not  approach  near  to  me?” 
But  they  replied,  “We  do  not  want  you,  nor  will  we  hurt 
you.  But  we  want  these  tusks  of  ivory  of  this  elephant. 
We  want  elephants.”  Wondering  at  this  wish,  he  cut  out 
the  tusks,  and  gave  them  to  the  strangers,  adding,  “Off  in 
the  Forest  are  very,  very  many  more  tusks,  more  than  I can 
number.  You  seem  to  like  them;  but  they  are  of  no  use  to 
me.”  They  earnestly  said,  “But,  bring  them,  bring  them! 
We  will  buy  them  of  you  with  abundance  of  goods.”  He 
agreed,  and  promised,  “I  am  going  now;  but,  let  your  ship 
wait,  and  I will  bring  all  of  those  things  as  many  as  it  is 
possible  for  me  to  carry.  ” 

So,  he  went  back  to  his  mother;  and  he  and  she  carried 
many,  many  tusks.  They  filled  the  ship  full;  and  the  crew 
of  the  ship  sent  ashore  an  immense  quantity  of  goods.  When 
the  vessel  went  away,  it  left  ashore  two  carpenters,  with 
direction  to  build  a fine  house,  and  have  it  completed  before 
the  vessel  should  come  again. 

The  man  remained  there  awhile  with  the  carpenters,  after 
the  ship  had  gone. 

One  day,  looking,  on  a journey  down  the  coast,  at  a point 
of  land,  he  was  surprised  to  recognize  his  father’s  town, 
where  he  and  his  mother  had  lived  in  his  childhood.  He 
said  to  himself,  “That’s  my  father’s  town!  I want  them  to 
come  to  me,  and  live  at  my  town!”  He  sent  word  to  them; 
they  removed,  and  all  of  them  came  to  live  with  him.  And 
he  married  one  of  their  young  women.  (In  the  meanwhile, 
he  had  brought  his  mother  from  the  forest.) 

While  he  was  living  at  his  new  home,  one  day  looking  sea- 
ward, he  saw  the  promised  ship  coming  to  get  more  ivory, 
and  to  give  more  goods.  And  he  went  off  to  the  vessel. 

Among  the  women  who  were  still  living  of  his  father’s 
people  who  had  known  him  as  a child,  was  the  one  who  had 
given  him  the  evil  “medicine”  long  ago;  her  object  in  giving 
it  having  been  to  kill  him.  After  he  had  gone  off  to  the 
vessel,  this  woman  came  to  his  wife’s  home,  and,  seeing  the 
Spear  hanging  tied  from  the  roof,  said,  “What  is  that  Thing 
tied  there?”  His  wife  replied,  “It  is  a kind  of  “medicine” 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


183 


of  my  husband’s.  It  must  not  be  touched.  ” But  the  woman 
said,  “I  know  that  Thing;  and  what  it  does.”  Then  she 
seized  it,  and  put  into  it  its  handle  the  man  had  removed. 
She  hurled  the  Spear  out  to  sea,  and  it  went  on  and  on, 
passing  over  the  ship.  The  man  sitting  in  the  saloon,  said 
to  the  crew,  as  he  recognized  the  Spear  in  its  flight,  “I  saw 
something  pass  over  the  ship!”  He  went  up  on  deck,  and 
called  after  it,  “My  Spear!  come  back!  come!  come!  come 
back!”  And  he  told  all  the  people  of  the  vessel  to  go  below 
lest  they  should  be  injured.  The  Spear  turned  and  came 
back  to  him;  and  he  took  possession  of  it.  Then  said  he  to 
the  crew,  “Come!  escort  me  ashore!”  They  landed  him 
ashore,  and  waited  to  see  what  he  intended  doing. 

He  called  all  his  father’s  family,  and  asked,  “Why  is  it 
that  you  have  tried  to  kill  me  today  with  this  Spear!  For 
this,  I will  this  day  kill  all  of  you.  ” He  summoned  all  the 
people  to  come  together.  When  they  had  come,  he  had  his 
mother  bring  out  that  tumor  bundle,  and  said,  “This  is  the 
thing  of  long  ago  with  which  that  woman  (pointing  to  the 
one  who  in  childhood  had  given  him  the  evil  disease)  tried 
to  injure  me.  And,  for  the  same  reason,  she  threw  the  Spear 
today;  thus  trying  a second  time  to  kill  me.  None  of  you 
have  rebuked  her.  So,  I shall  kill  you  all  as  her  associates.  ” 

Though  they  were  of  his  father’s  family,  he  attacked  and 
killed  them  all.  The  whole  town  died  that  day,  excepting 
himself,  his  wife,  his  mother,  and  his  sister.  These  four,  not 
liking  to  remain  at  that  evil  place,  went  off  and  took  passage 
on  the  ship. 

So,  he  journeyed,  and  came  to  the  country  of  the  white 
people  at  Manga-Manene;  and  never  returned  to  Africa. 
But,  he  kept  up  a trade  in  Ivory  with  his  native  country. 
But  for  him,  that  trade  would  not  have  been  begun.  For, 
besides  his  having  brought  the  first  elephant  to  the  sea  coast, 
he  told  the  people  of  Manga-Manene  beyond  the  Great  Sea, 
about  the  tribes  of  people,  and  about  the  elephants  that  were 
so  abundant,  in  Africa.  And  that  is  all. 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


TALE  24 

Origin  of  the  Ivory  Trade  (2nd  Version) 

Persons 

King  Njambu,  and  His  Four  Wives 
Ngwe-Konde  (Mother-of -Queens) 

Ngwe-Lege  (Mother-of -Poverty) 

Ivenga  (Watching);  Ngwe-Sape  (Mother  of  a Lock) 
Njambu’s  Son,  Savulaka  (Gluttony) 

The  Spirit  of  an  Uncle;  Mekuku  (Spirits  of  the  Dead) 

A Magic  Spear;  A Great  Elephant  (A  Metamorphosed  Man) 
Birds,  and  Other  Beasts 

Njambu  built  a town;  and  married  four  women.  This  one, 
Ngwe-Konde,  that  one  Ngwe-Leege,  another  one  Ivenga, 
another  Ngwe-Sape. 

After  Njambu  had  lived  there  a short  time  all  his  wives 
were  about  to  become  mothers.  Then  Ngwe-konde  took  a 
net,  and  (by  Magic  Art)  threw  it  into  the  womb  of  Ngwe- 
lege.  The  net  entered  the  belly  of  her  child. 

At  the  time  of  their  confinement,  they  all  gave  birth. 
The  infants  were  washed.  They  were  dressed  also,  and  were 
given  suck.  Also,  they  were  assigned  their  names.  That 
of  Ngwe-lege’s  was  Savulaka.  When  he  was  given  the  breast, 
he  was  not  satisfied,  he  was  only  crying  and  crying;  for, 
whoever  held  him,  there  were  only  cries  and  cries.  When 
his  mother  would  nurse  him,  there  was  only  crying.  His 
father  said,  “If  it  is  like  this,  then,  lest  he  die,  feed  him  the 
food  of  adults.  ” 

His  mother  cut  down  a plantain  bunch;  she  boiled  it;  it 
was  cooked.  The  child  ate,  and  finished  the  plantains;  and 
yet  it  was  crying  and  crying.  They  cut  down  another 
bunch;  it  was  boiled,  it  was  cooked.  At  only  one  eating, 
he  finished  the  food,  with  cries  in  his  mouth.  Two  more 
bunches  were  boiled;  he  ate.  All  at  once,  though  born  only 
that  day,  he  spoke,  “My  mother!  Hunger!”  Four  bunches 
were  cut  down;  they  were  cooked;  he  ate,  and  finished  them, 
but  with  crying. 


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185 


Then  he  was  cooked  for  ten  times;  he  ate;  and  at  once 
finished.  The  people  cooked,  and  he  ate.  The  plantains 
of  his  father’s  town  were  all  cleared  off,  the  entire  town  was 
left  like  a prairie.  The  father  spoke  to  the  mother,  and 
said,  “No!  go  away  with  him  to  your  father’s  town.” 

Ngwe-lege  picked  up  her  child,  carrying  him  away.  She 
with  the  child  went  on,  to  the  town  of  her  father. 

Her  father  asked  her,  “ My  child ! wherefore  the  crying,  and 
your  carrying  the  infant?”  She  replied,  “My  father!  I 
know  not!  This  one  whom  you  see,  since  he  was  born,  is 
not  filled.  He  has  made  an  end  to  all  the  plantains  of  his 
father’s  town,  leaving  the  town  a prairie.  And  his  father 
said  to  me,  ‘Just  go  and  take  him  to  your  father’s.’  So,  I 
have  brought  him.” 

The  towns-people  all  were  laughing,  “Kye!  kye!  kye!” 
They  said,  “What?  Really,  food?  No!  it’s  something 
else,  not  food.  But,  enter  into  the  house.”  She  says,  “You 
are  talking  foolishly.  ” The  child  began  to  cry.  They  said, 
“Let  us  see!” 

Then,  at  once,  they  began  to  cook;  the  food  is  ready;  he 
eats;  and  finishes  it.  Other  food  was  placed;  he  ate  it  at 
once.  Food  was  cooked  again.  At  once,  all  of  it,  and  the 
dishes,  and  the  jars,  and  the  plates,  were  swallowed  up  by 
him.  Food  is  cooked  again,  and  he  ate;  and  then  said,  “ My 
mother!  Hunger!”  Food  is  cooked  again;  he  ate  until  he 
finished  all  the  pots.  All  the  food  of  the  town,  and  all  the 
gardens  were  done. 

Her  father  spoke  to  her  saying,  “My  child!  Just  carry  him 
to  the  town  of  your  grandfather.  ” 

|^She  then  carried  the  child,  still  crying  with  hunger,  and 
made  her  journey,  and  came  to  her  grandfather’s  town. 

The  people  there  said,  “WThat  is  it;  for  the  crying?”  She 
told  all  the  whole  affair  to  them.  They  inquired,  “Food?” 
She  replied,  “Yes.”  They  cooked,  and  he  ate,  and  finished. 
They  cooked  again;  and  he  finished  all,  even  to  the  leaves  in 
which  the  food  was  wrapped.  They  said,  “Such  a kind  of 
child  has  never  been  born  before!” 

Suddenly,  the  child  Savulaka  ceased  to  be  a child;  and,  as 
a man,  said  to  his  mother,  “My  mother!  Wash  me  some 
mekima  (rolls  of  mashed  boiled  plantains).”  So,  his  mother 
made  the  mekima. 


186 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


In  the  morning,  very  early,  Savulaka  starts  on  a journey. 
He  went  stepping  very  quickly,  on,  still  with  his  journey; 
and,  as  he  went,  he  talked  to  himself.  He  said,  “This  thing 
which  has  been  done  to  me,  now,  what  is  it?”  He  still  went 
on  with  the  journey,  until,  at  night,  he  lay  down  in  the 
forest.  Early  in  the  morning,  he  starts  again  for  his  journey. 
As  he  was  going  in  the  forest  he  met  with  a Person  (a  brother 
of  his  mother,  who  belonged  to  a town  of  the  Mekuku). 
This  Person  inquired,  “Where  are  you  going  to?”  (Savulaka 
was  still  eating  the  mekima,  even  its  leaves  going  into  his 
mouth.)  This  Person  also  said  to  him,  “Stop  at  once!” 
Then  he  stood  still. 

The  Person  said,  “I,  your  Uncle,  the  brother  of  your 
mother,  am  the  one  who  is  inquiring  of  you.”  Savulaka 
answered  him,  saying,  “I’m  not  able  to  tell  you.”  But 
presently  he  did  tell  all  the  matter  to  him.  So,  the  Uncle 
said  to  him,  “Come,  to  my  town.” 

Then  both  of  them  returned  on  the  path.  In  a moment, 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  they  are  at  the  town.  The  Uncle 
said,  “ My  child,  you  are  cured ! ” He  put  for  him  a medicine 
in  a syringe,  and  gave  him  an  injection.  When  he  withdrew 
the  syringe,  here,  at  once,  a net  began  to  come  out  quick  as 
ever  it  could  move  from  the  bowels!  Then  his  Uncle  spoke 
and  told  him,  “It  is  thy  father’s  wife  who  put  the  net  into 
your  bowels.” 

Food  was  cooked  for  him;  he  began  to  eat  a little  as  people 
usually  eat.  His  Uncle  said  unto  him,  “You  shall  go  to- 
morrow.” 

On  the  morrow,  early  in  the  morning,  his  Uncle  took  all 
kinds  and  sorts  of  vegetables;  and  he  took  also  a Spear; 
and  malagetta  pepper  (“Guinea-grains,”  a species  of  car- 
domom),  and  handed  them  to  him;  and  told  him,  “When  you 
reach  home,  you  must  plant  a garden.  ” 

The  Uncle  said  to  him,  “Close  your  eyes!”  He  closed  his 
eyes  tight.  On  opening  his  eyes,  he  at  once  found  himself 
near  his  home,  and  his  mother  on  the  path,  her  form  bent 
stooping  down  seeking  for  him.  He  then  entered  their 
house,  and  sat  down,  and  his  mother  greeted  him  to  her 
satisfaction. 

The  mother  took  food,  and  boiled  it;  it  was  cooked;  she 
removed  it  from  the  fire;  she  sat  the  food  before  Savulaka. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


187 


And  he  ate  only  two  fingers  of  plantains.  His  mother  began 
to  wonder. 

Then  he  said  to  himself,  “Now,  let  me  try  to  do  as  my 
Uncle  has  told  me.”  He  said,  “Ngalo!  (a  fetish  charm)  I 
want  this  forest  here  to  be  cleared,  all  of  it.  ” (As  quickly  as 
I speak  here,  at  once  the  garden  was  finished,  like  the  passing 
of  yesterday.)  He  said  to  his  mother,  “Take  a list  of  all 
the  plants  I have  brought;  then  let  us  go  and  plant  them.” 
So,  he  and  his  mother  went  to  plant;  that  very  day  the 
garden  was  completely  finished. 

Previously  to  that,  his  Uncle  had  warned  him,  “When 
the  plants  are  sprung  up,  you  will  see  Kenene  (a  kind  of 
small  bird)  coming  to  eat  them.  When  they  shall  arrive, 
they  will  be  many.  Then  you  take  the  Spear;  fail  not  to 
use  the  cardomoms  with  it.  ” 

The  food  increased;  and  the  small  birds  came  in  countless 
numbers.  Savulaka  took  up  the  Spear,  and  threw  it  at  them ; 
and  all,  even  to  the  young  birds,  perished.  Then  he  returned 
to  his  mother,  and  said,  “My  mother!  go  and  pick  up  the 
sele”  (another  name  of  kenene).  She  gathered  them; 
leaving  many  remaining  abandoned  in  the  forest.  The 
village  was  filled  with  the  sele. 

The  same  thing  happened  with  all  other  kinds  of  birds. 
The  same  with  every  Beast. 

Then  Elephants  came  to  the  garden.  The  man  picked  up 
the  Spear  and  the  cardomoms.  When  he  came  to  the  garden, 
he  lifted  up  the  Spear,  and  threw  it,  and  wounded  the  Ele- 
phants. Numbers  of  Elephants  that  were  eating  in  the 
garden,  were  killed.  They  were  gathered,  and  the  whole 
village  was  filled  with  the  smell  of  the  rotting  meat;  so  that 
hardly  any  one  would  come  to  the  village.  I am  not  able 
to  tell  you  the  abundance  of  tusks;  the  mendanda 
(long  ones),  and  the  makubu  (short  thick  ones),  and  the 
begege  (“ scrivillers, ” the  small  ones),  that  cannot  be 
counted. 

The  next  morning,  other  elephants  came  again.  The  man 
took  up  the  Spear,  but  he  forgot  the  cardomom-pepper. 
When  he  arrived  where  they  were,  he  did  not  wait,  but 
hastily  threw  the  Spear  after  an  elephant,  the  leader  of  the 
herd,  who  turned  aside,  and  ran  away  with  the  Spear  in  its 
body.  The  man  followed  him,  but  he  did  not  reach  him. 


188 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Then  he  reurned  to  his  mother;  and  said  to  her,  “My  mother! 
mash  me  some  mekima.  ” (Food  for  a journey.) 

In  the  next  morning,  the  man  started  on  the  journey, 
stepping  quickly  as  ever,  until  he  came  to  his  Uncle’s  town. 
He  was  about  to  pass  his  Uncle  by,  not  seeing  him  (a  Spirit). 
The  Uncle  said  to  him,  “Stand  there!”  So  he  stood.  The 
Uncle  directed,  “Enter  the  house!”  He  entered,  and  sat 
down;  and  his  Uncle  said  to  him,  “Did  I not  tell  you  that 
when  you  are  going  to  kill  an  animal,  you  must  not  omit 
the  pepper-grains?  Sit  down  there;  wait.  Don’t  you  go 
out.  I must  go  and  take  for  you  your  Spear.  ” 

But,  lo ! it  was  the  Chief  of  that  very  town,  whom  he  had 
wounded,  and  who  had  come  back  to  the  town,  and  died. 
(That  chief  had  metamorphosed  himself  into  the  form  of  an 
elephant.)  The  uncle  passed  out,  and  went  to  the  other  end 
of  the  town;  and  there  he  found  the  Spear.  He  took  it,  and 
gave  it  to  Savulaka,  and  said,  “Go!”  Savulaka  went;  and 
met  his  mother  on  the  way,  waiting  for  him.  Then  they 
went  home  to  their  village. 

Next  morning,  he  fastened  the  Spear  handle.  Elephants 
in  the  plantation  shouted,  “We  have  come!”  The  man 
stood  up,  and  snatched  his  Spear.  The  Elephants  stood 
waiting.  The  man  said,  “Here  it  is!”  and  flung  it  at  them. 
And  the  carcasses  of  all  fell  in  a heap.  He  said  to  the  people 
of  the  village,  “Go  ye!”  They  went,  and  found  dead  bodies 
without  number;  the  tusks  the  same,  without  number. 

After  that,  White-Man  came  with  a quantity  of  goods. 
The  Town  of  Savulaka  was  crowded  with  goods  in  abundance; 
every  kind  of  foreign  article.  White  men  came  to  see  Ivory. 
The  sailing-vessels  and  steamers  came  any  day  (not  only  on 
scheduled  dates).  Thus  it  was  that  Ivory  was  exported, 
and  goods  imported.  Business  of  Trading  was  made. 
Savulaka  had  a great  many  traders.  All  his  father’s  brothers, 
and  mother’s  brothers,  all  their  dwelling  was  in  the  town  of 
Savulaka.  Rum  was  drunk  constantly,  and  they  were 
constantly  intoxicated.  Ivory  went  to  White  Man’s  Land. 
White  men’s  things  came,  and  were  sent  up  to  the  Interior. 

This  Trade  is  going  on  to  the  present  days.  It  was  a man 
who  commenced  with  the  thought  of  Trading;  it  was  com- 
menced by  that  one  man.  All  the  African  tribes  are  now 
changed  from  what  they  were  originally. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


189 


At  first  we  negroes  had  no  (proper)  knowledge.  They 
spoke  with  wonder  over  the  things  that  are  made  in  Europe 
by  white  men.  They  said,  “These  are  made  by  the  Spirits 
of  the  dead;  they  are  not  made  by  the  living.”  Because 
our  people  believed  that  the  departed  spirits  have  their 
home  beyond  the  Sea.  Why?  Because  Savulaka  brought 
his  wonderful  Spear  (by  which  so  much  ivory  was  obtained) 
from  the  Spirit-Town. 


TALE  25 

Dog  and  His  False  Friend  Leopard 
Persons 

Mbwa  (Dog)  Ngiya  (Gorilla) 

Nj&  (Leopard) 


NOTE 

The  origin  of  the  hatred  between  dogs  and  leopards. 
Friends  should  not  have  arguments.  An  argument  separates 
a company. 


Dog  and  Leopard  built  a town.  Dog  then  begot  very 
many  children.  Leopard  begot  his  many  also.  They  had 
one  table  together.  They  conversed,  they  hunted,  they  ate, 
they  drank. 

One  day,  they  were  arguing:  Leopard  said,  “If  I hide 
myself,  you  are  not  able  to  see  me.”  Dog  replied,  “There 
is  no  place  in  which  you  can  hide  where  I cannot  see  you.  ” 
The  next  day,  at  the  break  of  the  day.  Leopard  emerged 
from  his  house  at  Batanga,  and  he  went  north  as  far  as  from 
there  to  Bahabane  near  Plantation.  Dog,  in  the  next  morn- 
ing, emerged.  He  asked,  “Where  is  chum  Nja?”  The 
women  and  children  answered,  “We  do  not  know.”  Dog 
also  started,  and  went:  and  as  he  went,  smelling,  until  he 


190 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


arrived  at  Plantation  (about  15  miles).  He  came  and  stood 
under  the  tree  up  which  Leopard  was  hidden;  and  he  said, 
“Is  not  this  you?” 

Both  of  them  returned,  and  came  to  their  town.  Food 
had  been  prepared;  and  they  ate.  Leopard  said,  “Chum! 
you  will  not  see  me  here  tomorrow.  ” When  the  next  day 
began  to  break,  Leopard  started  southward,  as  far  as  to 
Lolabe  (about  15  miles).  Next  day,  in  the  morning,  Dog 
stood  out  in  the  street,  lifted  up  his  nose,  and  smelled.  He 
also  went  down  southward,  clear  on  till  he  came  to  Lolabe; 
and  standing  at  the  foot  of  a tree,  he  said,  “Is  not  this  you?” 

Leopard  came  down  from  the  top  of  the  tree;  they  stood; 
and  then  they  returned  to  their  town.  Food  was  cooked  for 
them;  they  ate,  and  finished. 

Leopard  said,  “Chum!  you  will  not  see  me  tomorrow  again, 
no  matter  what  may  take  place.”  Dog  asked,  “True?” 
Leopard  replied,  “Yes!” 

In  the  morning,  Leopard  started  southward,  for  a distance 
like  from  Batanga  to  Campo  River  (about  40  miles). 

At  the  opening  of  the  next  day,  Dog  emerged,  and,  stand- 
ing and  smelling,  he  said,  looking  toward  the  south,  “He 
went  this  way.”  Dog  also  went  to  Campo.  He  reached 
Leopard,  and  said,  “Is  not  this  you?” 

They  came  back  to  their  town;  they  were  made  food;  and 
they  ate. 

The  next  day,  Leopard  emerged  early.  He  went  north- 
ward, as  far  as  from  Batanga  to  Lokonje  (about  40  miles). 
Dog  sniffed  the  air,  and  followed  north  also.  In  a steady 
race,  he  was  soon  there;  and  he  reached  Leopard.  So, 
Leopard  said,  “It  is  useless,  I will  not  attempt  to  hide  my- 
self again  from  Mbwa.  ” 

Thereupon,  Dog  spoke  to  Leopard  and  said,  “ It  is  I,  whom, 
if  I hide  myself  from  you,  you  will  not  see.”  Leopard 
replied,  “WThat!  even  if  you  were  able  to  find  me,  howT  much 
more  should  I be  able  to  find  you!”  So,  Dog  said  to  him, 
“Wait,  till  daybreak.” 

When  the  next  day  broke,  Dog  passed  from  his  house  like 
a flash  unseen,  vyu!  to  Leopard’s.  And,  underneath  the 
bed  of  Leopard  in  his  public  Reception-house,  he  lay  dowm. 
Then  Leopard  (who  had  not  seen  him)  came  to  the  house  of 
Dog;  he  asked  the  women,  “Where  is  Mbwra?”  They  said, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


191 


“Thy  friend,  long  ago,  has  gone  out  hence,  very  early.” 
Leopard  returned  to  his  house,  and  he  said  to  his  children, 
“That  fellow!  if  I catch  him!  I do  not  know  what  I shall  do 
to  him!” 

He  started  southward  on  the  journey,  as  far  as  Lolabe; 
and  did  not  see  Dog.  So  he  returned  northward  a few  miles, 
as  far  as  Boje,  and  did  not  see  him.  Down  again  south  to 
Campo;  and  he  did  not  see  him.  That  first  day,  he  did  not 
find  him  at  all.  Then  he  returned  toward  Batanga,  and  went 
eastward  to  Nkamakak  (about  60  miles) ; and  he  did  not  see 
him.  He  went  on  northward  to  Ebaluwa  (about  60  miles) ; 
did  not  see  him.  Up  north-west  to  Lokonje;  he  did  not  see 
him.  And  Leopard,  wearied,  went  back  to  his  town. 

Coming  to  the  bed  (not  knowing  Dog  was  there)  he  lay 
down  very  tired.  He  said  to  his  people,  “ If  I had  met  him 
today,  then  you  would  be  eating  a good  meat  now.”  All 
these  words  were  said  in  the  ears  of  Dog,  the  while  that  Dog 
was  underneath  the  bed. 

Then  Dog  leaped  out,  pwa!  Leopard  asked,  “Where 
have  you  been?  Dog  answered,  “I  saw  you  when  you  first 
passed  out.”  Leopard  said,  “True?”  And  Dog  says,  “Yes!” 

Then  Dog  went  out  far  to  his  end  of  the  town.  And, 
knowing  that  Leopard  intended  evil  toward  him,  he  said  to 
his  children,  “Let  us  go  and  dig  a pit.”  So  they  went  and 
dug  a pit  in  the  middle  of  the  road. 

Then  Dog  told  his  wives  and  children,  “Go  ye  before,  at 
once!”  He  also  said,  “I  and  this  little  Mbwa,  which  can 
run  so  fast,  we  shall  remain  behind.”  Then  the  others 
went  on  in  advance. 

(Before  that,  Leopard,  observing  some  movements  of  the 
Mbwa  family,  had  been  speaking  to  himself,  “I  do  not  know 
the  place  where  Mbwa  and  his  children  will  go  today.  ”) 

Dog  warned  this  young  one,  “When  you  are  pursued, 
you  must  jump  clear  across  that  pit.  ” 

Then  Dog,  to  cover  the  retreat  of  his  family,  came  alone 
to  Leopard’s  end  of  the  town.  He  and  his  children  chased 
after  him.  Dog  ran  away  rapidly,  and  escaped. 

When  Leopard’s  company  arrived  at  the  house  of  Dog, 
they  found  there  only  that  little  dog.  So  they  said,  “Come 
ye!  for  there  is  no  other  choice  than  that  we  catch  and  eat 
this  little  thing.  ” 


192 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Thereupon,  Leopard  chased  after  the  little  dog;  but  it 
leaped  away  rapidly,  and  Leopard  after  him.  When  the 
little  Dog  was  near  the  pit,  it  made  a jump.  (Leopard  did 
not  know  of  the  pit,  nor  why  the  Dog  ju^nped.)  When 
Leopard  was  come  to  the  pit,  he  fell  inside,  tumbling,  volom! 

His  enemy  Gorilla  was  following  after  Leopard,  also  in 
pursuit  of  Dog.  He  also  fell  into  the  pit,  headlong,  volom! 
Finding  Leopard  there,  Gorilla  said,  “What  is  this?”  Leo- 
pard stood  at  one  side,  and  Gorilla  at  the  other.  When  the 
one  would  be  about  to  go  near  the  other,  if  the  other  attempted 
to  go  near  him,  he  would  begin  to  growl,  saying,  “You  must 
not  approach  here!” 

Dog,  standing  at  the  edge  above,  was  laughing  at  them, 
saying,  “Fight  ye  your  own  fight!  Did  you  want  only  me?” 

But  Leopard  and  Gorilla  were  not  fighting  in  the  pit.  If 
the  one  approached,  the  other  retreated. 

Dog  spoke  to  them  and  said  in  derision.  “I  have  no 
strength;  but  as  to  your  fight,  was  it  seeking  only  me?” 


TALE  26 

A Trick  for  Vengeance 
Persons 


Kudu  (Tortoise)  Ko  (Wild-Rat) 

Nja  (Leopard) 


NOTE 

Because  of  deaths  and  sicknesses,  African  natives  are 
constantly  changing  the  location  of  their  villages,  believing 
the  old  sites  infested  by  malevolent  Spirits. 


The  whole  mass  of  Beasts  were  living  in  one  place.  They 
built  houses;  they  cleared  the  forest  for  plantations* 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


193 


After  this,  Tortoise  said,  “ I ’m  going  to  find  my  own  place.  ” 
So,  he  went  and  built  in  a place  which  he  called  Malende- 
ma-Kudu.  The  fame  of  it  was  spread  abroad,  people  talk- 
ing about  “Malende-ma-Kudu.”  Leopard  arose,  came  to 
the  town  of  Tortoise,  and  said,  “I  have  come  to  build  here/’ 
Tortoise  consented,  “You  may  build.”  Leopard  said,  “I’m 
going  to  build  at  the  end  of  the  path,  and  by  the  spring.” 
And  he  built  there. 

One  day,  a child  of  Tortoise  was  passing  by  near  the 
spring;  and  Leopard  seized  him,  ku! 

Another  day,  another  one  was  passing;  Leopard  seized 
him,  also,  ku! 

Then  Tortoise  said,  “This  is  an  evil  place,  I’m  going  to 
move  from  here.  ” So  he  went  and  built  another  town  called 
Jamba.  Leopard  came  also,  saying,  “Kudu!  I’m  coming  to 
build!”  Then  Tortoise  said,  “Really!  what  have  your 
affairs  to  do  with  me?  Nevertheless,  come  and  build.” 
And  Leopard  built  at  the  end,  by  the  spring. 

When  the  children  of  Tortoise  were  passing  by  the  spring, 
Leopard  constantly  killed  them. 

Tortoise  wondered,  “This  thing  which  is  destroying  my 
children,  what  is  it?” 

Thus  day  by  day,  Leopard  was  killing  the  children  of 
Tortoise. 

Tortoise  prepared  again  to  remove,  saying  that  he  would 
go  away  and  build  another  town  to  be  called  Dang.  He 
went  there.  And  the  fame  of  it  was  spread  around,  people 
saying,  “Dang,  the  town  of  Kudu!”  Everybody  was  say- 
ing, “We  are  going  to  the  town  of  Kudu;  Dang,  the  town  of 
Kudu!” 

Leopard  comes  again,  and  says,  “I  also  have  come  to 
build  here.”  Tortoise  said  to  him,  “Wait!  really;  why  did 
you  leave  the  other  people?”  However,  Tortoise  said  to 
him,  “Build.”  And  Leopard  built  as  usual.  Also,  when 
the  children  of  Tortoise  were  passing  to  the  spring,  they 
were  missing.  And  Tortoise  felt  sure  that  Leopard  had 
seized  them. 

Thereupon  Tortoise  made  a plan  for  himself.  He  called 
Wild-Rat  privately,  saying,  “I  have  heard  that  you  know 
how  to  dig  holes.”  Wild-Rat  replied,  “It  is  my  work. ” 
Tortoise  said,  “But,  I want  you  to  dig  me  a tunnel  from  this 


194 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


room  here,  out  to,  and  up  towards  the  street,  by  measure.” 
So,  Wild-Rat  dug  a big  hole,  in  size  sufficient  for  Tortoise 
and  his  traveling-bag  and  his  spears. 

Then  Tortoise  went  and  gathered  together  his  spears  and 
his  traveling-bag.  He  went  out  the  next  day,  early  in  the 
morning,  and  stood  and  announced  in  the  street,  “All  the 
Tribes  must  come!  I want  to  tell  them  the  news  of  what  I 
have  seen.  ” 

Then  all  the  Beasts  came  to  meet  in  the  town  of  Tortoise. 
It  was  full  of  every  kind  of  beast.  Tortoise  spoke,  and  said, 
“I  have  called  you  to  say,  that  really  we  are  not  worth 
anything  at  all.  Actually,  the  only  dwelling  we  have  is  in  the 
grave.  All  those  my  children  who  have  died  here,  is  it 
possible  that  it  is  my  Father  (of  Spirits)  who  takes  them? 
I met  them  sitting  down  in  the  Reception-House  of  that 
father,  playing.  ” The  people  said  to  him,  “This  is  a Dream.  ” 
He  replied,  “No!  it  is  open  to  sight.”  Some  said,  “It  is  a 
lie.”  But  Tortoise  said,  “You  have  doubted  me?  Well, 
tomorrow  you  must  dig  me  a grave;  and  you  shall  see  how 
I am  going.”  They  said,  “Yes!  let  us  see!” 

On  the  next  day,  in  the  morning,  they  were  called  to- 
gether. He  said,  “Dig  me  a pit  here.”  (He  pointed  to  the 
privately  measured  spot  over  the  tunnel  which  Wild-Rat  had 
already  made  for  him.)  They  dug  it  wide  and  deeply. 
Then,  this  Tortoise  took  his  spears  and  his  bag;  and  with 
these  under  his  arm,  he  descended  into  the  pit,  and  bade 
the  people  fill  in  the  earth.  He  went  to  one  side,  until 
he  reached  and  entered  that  tunnel  of  his  which  Wild-Rat 
had  dug  for  him.  And  unseen  he  passed  up  to  his  room 
in  his  house,  and  lay  down.  Before  that,  he  had  prom- 
ised the  people,  saying,  “I  shall  he  there  (in  the  pit)  for  six 
days.  ” 

Before  Tortoise  had  disappeared,  the  people  (following 
his  orders)  began  to  throw  back  the  earth  into  the  pit,  filling 
it  solidly. 

After  Tortoise  had  laid  in  his  house  for  six  days,  he  suddenly 
appeared  in  the  street;  and  he  called  all  the  mass  of  the 
Beasts,  and  he  told  them  the  news.  He  said,  “Over  there 
is  so  beautiful!  I will  not  stay  in  this  town  any  more  for 
as  long  as  ten  days.  But,  as  I am  here,  I shall  lie  here  only 
for  three  days,  and  two  days  over  there.  ” At  once  Tortoise 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


195 


was  regarded  as  a person  of  great  importance,  and  his  fame 
was  spread  abroad. 

Thereupon,  Leopard,  (feeling  jealous  of  the  wonderful 
experience  of  Tortoise)  said  to  his  children,  “Even  Kudu! 
How  much  rather  that  I should  get  to  that  beautiful  place! 
Dig  me  mine  own  pit.  I also  am  going  to  see  my  forefathers. 
I and  they,  we  have  not  seen  each  other  for  a long  time.” 
So,  they  dug  a big  pit.  He  announced,  “I  will  lie  there  for 
seven  days;  on  the  eighth,  then  I shall  come.” 

Then  he  descended  into  the  pit.  And  they  rapidly  filled 
it  up  with  earth.  Leopard,  below,  sought  a cavity  by  which 
to  pass  on  (as  he  thought)  to  the  Land  of  Spirits;  but,  there 
was  none.  iVnd  he  died. 

His  children  waited  eight  days;  but  they  saw  not  their 
father.  Then  they  asked  Tortoise,  “As  to  our  father,  up  to 
this  day,  what  has  happened  to  him?”  Tortoise  answered 
them,  “Why  are  you  asking  me  this?  When  I went,  what 
did  my  family  ask  of  you?  Maybe,  your  father  remained 
to  follow  the  pleasures  of  over  there!” 

The  women  of  Leopard  had  kept  him  some  food,  making 
it  ready  for  him  for  the  eighth  day.  But  (giving  up  hope  of 
him)  they  ate  it.  While  they  were  still  waiting,  actually 
Leopard  had  begun  to  rot  there  (in  the  pit) . 

Tortoise,  fearing  possible  difficulty,  gathered  together  his 
wives  and  remaining  children,  and  fled  with  them  into  the 
forest  afar  off. 


TALE  27 
Not  My  Fault! 

Persons 

Yongolokodi  (Chameleon)  Ko  (Wild  Rat) 

Men,  Hunters 

Chameleon  and  all  the  other  Beasts  built  their  villages 
near  together,  making  a large  town.  And  there  was  a time 
of  great  hunger.  After  that,  there  came  a harvest  time  of 


196  WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 

large  fruitage.  The  great  produce  could  not  be  gathered  for 
abundance. 

Then  came  Chameleon  to  the  village  of  Wild-Rat,  and  he 
said  to  him,  “Chum,  Ko!  this  harvest  is  a great  thing !” 
Rat  said,  “Don’t  speak  about  it!” 

Not  long  afterward,  Mankind  laid  their  snares,  and  the 
hunters  prepared  their  bows.  For,  beasts  and  birds  had  come 
in  crowds  to  eat  of  the  abundance;  and  Man  had  overhead 
them  speaking  of  it.  Gunners  came;  the  shots  resounded; 
bows  were  twanged;  the  snares  caught. 

Rat  fell  into  one  of  the  traps.  Chameleon  seeing  him, 
and  desiring  to  justify  himself,  reminded  Rat  that  Rat  himself 
had  told  him  not  to  let  others  know  of  the  great  abundance, 
and  that  he  himself  had  obeyed;  that  therefore  he  was  not 
the  cause  of  Rat’s  misfortune.  So,  Chameleon  said,  “7  did 
not  speak  of  it.  ” 


TALE  28 

Do  Not  Impose  on  the  Weak 
Persons 

Yongolokodi  (Chameleon)  Nja  (Leopard) 


NOTE 

Chameleons  move  very  slowly.  This  story  is  given  as  a 
reason  why,  even  if  one  is  small  in  body,  he  should  not  be 
despised,  as  though  he  had  no  strength,  or  as  though  he 
could  with  impunity  be  deprived  of  his  rights,  e.  g.,  in  a race 
or  in  wrestling,  or  in  any  other  circumstances. 


Leopard  and  Chameleon  lived  apart.  This  one  had  his 
village,  and  that  one  his.  This  one  did  his  own  business; 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


197 


that  one  his.  And  they  were  resting  quietly  in  their 
abodes. 

Chameleon  had  a herd  of  sheep  and  of  goats. 

Leopard  came  to  the  village  of  Chameleon  on  an  excursion; 
and  he  saw  the  herd  of  sheep  and  of  goats.  He  said  to 
Chameleon,  “Chum!  give  me  a loan  of  sheep  to  raise  on 
shares.”  Chameleon  made  food  for  him;  and,  when  they 
had  eaten,  he  said  to  Leopard,  “You  can  send  children  to- 
morrow, to  come  and  take  the  loan  of  sheep  on  shares.” 
They  had  their  conversation,  talking,  and  talking.  When 
they  had  ended,  Leopard  said,  “ My  Fellow ! I ’m  going  back.  ” 
His  friend  said  to  him,  “Very  good.” 

Leopard  went  on  to  his  village.  He  said,  “My  wife!  I 
came  on  an  excursion,  to  the  town  of  Yongolokodi.  He 
treated  me  with  hospitality  to  the  very  greatest  degree. 
Also  he  has  given  me  sheep  on  shares.  ” 

The  next  day,  in  the  morning,  he  sent  his  children  to  the 
town  of  Chameleon  to  take  the  herd  of  sheep.  They  went; 
and  they  brought  them;  and  goats  also.  (A  “day”  in  an 
Ekano  Tale  is  without  limit  as  to  length  or  shortness.) 

The  goats  and  sheep  increased,  until  the  village  of  Leopard 
was  positively  full  of  them  crowded  in  abundance. 

About  three  years  passed,  and  Chameleon  said  to  himself, 
“Our  herd  with  Chum  must  be  about  sufficient  for  division. ” 
Thereupon  he  started  on  his  journey  crawling,  naka,  naka, 
naka,  until  he  came  to  the  house  of  his  friend  Leopard. 
Leopard  said  to  his  wife,  “Make  food!”  It  was  cooked, 
they  ate,  and  rested. 

Chameleon  said  to  Leopard,  “Chum!  I have  come,  that 
we  should  divide  the  shares  of  the  herd.  ” Leopard  replied, 
“Good!  but,  first  go  back  today.  Who  can  catch  goats  and 
sheep  on  a hot  day  like  this?  Come  tomorrow  morning.” 
Chameleon  said,  “Very  good.”  And  he  went  back  to  his 
village. 

The  next  day,  in  the  morning,  he  rose  to  go  to  the  village 
of  Leopard.  (Actually,  after  midnight,  Leopard  had  already 
opened  the  pens,  and  all  the  animals  were  scattered  outside.) 
He  protested  regret  to  Chameleon,  and  said,  “ Chum ! go  back ! 
I don’t  know  how  those  fellows  have  opened  their  pens.  I 
was  expecting  you,  for  this  day;  I had  let  my  herdman  know 
that  a person  was  coming  on  the  morrow.  So,  go  back. 


198 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


And,  as  I am  going  tomorrow  to  the  swamp  for  bamboo,  you 
must  come  only  on  the  second  day.”  Chameleon  submis- 
sively replied,  “Very  good.” 

Chameleon  continued  coming;  and  his  treatment  was 
just  so  every  time,  with  excuses. 

Leopard,  hoping,  said  to  himself,  “Perhaps  he  will  die  on 
the  way,  ” because  he  saw  him  walking  so  slowly,  naka,  naka. 
And  Chameleon  kept  on  patiently  going  back  and  forth, 
back  and  forth. 

One  night,  Leopard  and  his  wife  were  lying  down;  where- 
upon his  wife  asked  him,  “What  is  the  reason  that  you  and 
Yongolokodi  have  not  divided  the  shares  of  the  herd?  Do 
you  think  he  will  die  of  this  weakness?”  Leopard  answered, 
“No!  it  is  not  weakness,  Njambe  is  the  one  who  created  him 
so;  it  is  his  own  way  of  walking.  ” 

Finally,  Chameleon  said  to  himself,  “I  must  see  what  Nja 
intends  to  do  to  me;  whether  he  thinks  that  he  shall  eat  my 
share.  ” He  went  by  night  and  waited  outside  of  Leopard’s. 
Next  day,  in  the  morning,  as  Leopard  rose  to  go  out,  he 
found,  unexpectedly,  as  he  emerged  from  the  house,  Cham- 
eleon sitting  on  the  threshold.  There  was  no  other  deception 
that  Leopard  could  seek;  for,  the  animals  were  still  in  their 
pens.  So,  he  called  his  children,  and  said,  “Tie  the  goats 
and  sheep  with  cords.  ” So  they  tied  them  all.  And  he  and 
Chameleon  divided  them.  Then  this  one  returned  to  his 
place;  and  that  one  to  his. 


TALE  29 

Borrowed  Clothes 
Persons 

Koho  (Parrot)  Kuba  (Chicken) 


NOTE 

A story  of  the  cause  of  the  enmity  between  chickens  and 
parrots.  When  a chicken  comes  near  to  a parrot,  the  latter 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


199 


turns  to  one  side,  saying,  “wa!”;  for  fear  that  the  chicken 
will  take  his  fine  feathers  from  him. 


Parrot  and  Chicken  wTere  fowls  living  in  a village  of 
Mankind  near  a town;  which  they  had  built  together.  They 
were  living  there  in  great  friendship. 

Then  Parrot  said  to  Chicken,  “Chum!  I’m  going  to  make 
an  engagement  for  marriage.  ” So,  he  prepared  his  journey. 
And  he  asked  Chicken,  “Chum!  give  me  now  thy  fine  dress!” 
(For  the  occasion.)  Chicken,  said,  “Very  good!”  and  he 
handed  his  tail  feathers  to  him.  Thereupon,  Parrot  went  on 
his  marriage  journey. 

When  he  came  home  again,  he  said  to  himself,  “These 
feathers  become  me.  I will  not  return  them  to  Kuba.  ” 

So,  when  Chicken  said  to  him,  “Return  me  my  clothes,” 
he  replied,  “I  will  not  return  them!”  Chicken,  seeing  that 
Parrot  was  retaining  the  feathers,  said  sarcastically,  “Accept 
your  clothing ! ” Thereupon,  Parrot,  pretending  to  be  wrong- 
ed, said,  “Fellow!  why  do  you  put  me  to  shame?  I did  not 
say  that  I would  take  your  clothing  altogether,  only  that  we 
should  exchange  clothes.  ” 

At  night,  then,  Parrot  took  all  his  family,  and  they 
flew  up  in  the  air  away.  At  once,  he  decided  to  stay  there, 
and  did  not  come  to  live  on  the  ground  again.  Chicken 
was  left  remaining  with  Mankind  in  the  town. 

Whenever  Chicken  began  to  call  to  Parrot  up  in  the  tree- 
tops,  asking  for  his  clothes,  Parrot  only  screamed  back  “wa! 
w&!”  That  was  a mode  of  speech  by  which  to  mock  at 
Chicken. 


200 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


TALE  30 


The  Story  of  a Panic 


Persons 


Edubu  (Adder) 
Ikingi  (Fly) 

Ko  (Wild-Rat) 
Ngomba  (Porcupine) 


Njaku  (Elephant) 
Ngubu  (Hippopotamus) 
Nyati  (Ox) 

Bejaka  (Fishes) 


Ngando  (Crocodile) 


NOTE 


Native  Africans  after  bathing,  rub  more  or  less  of  some 
oil,  either  native  palm,  or  foreign  pomade,  on  their  bodies. 

In  the  Dry  Seasons,  when  the  rivers  are  low,  fish  are 
caught  by  building  dams  across  the  streams,  and  then  bailing 
out  the  water  from  the  enclosed  spaces.  Observe  flies,  as 
carriers  of  disease. 


Adder  went  to  bathe.  He  returned,  and  anointed  himself 
with  nyimba  oil  (oil  of  bamboo-palm  nuts),  and  then  climbed 
out  on  to  a branch  of  a cayenne-pepper  bush. 

Fly  came  and  settled  upon  Adder’s  back.  Adder,  being 
annoyed,  drove  Fly  away.  Then  Fly  said  to  Adder,  in 
anger,  “Know  you  not  that  it  is  I who  cause  even  Njaku, 
with  his  big  tusks,  to  rot?  And  that  I can  cause  Nyati  and 
Ngubu  to  rot?  And  I can  cause  Mankind  to  rot!  Then 
how  much  more  you,  this  Thing  who  has  only  ribs  and  ribs!” 

When  Adder  heard  this,  he  was  alarmed,  and  he  entered 
into  the  hole  of  Wild-Rat.  Wild-Rat  asked  him,  “Chum 
Adder ! where  do  you  come  from  in  such  haste?  ” He  answer- 
ed, “I  have  seen  a Being  which  does  not  hesitate  to  cause 
Beasts  and  even  Mankind  to  rot.  Therefore,  I am  fled,  by 
reason  of  fear  of  Ikingi.  ” 

Whereupon  Wild-Rat,  frightened,  arose,  and  entered 
hastily  into  the  town  of  Porcupine.  Porcupine,  alarmed, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


201 


asked  Wild-Rat,  “What  is  it?”  He  answered,  “I’m  afraid 
of  Ikingi ; Edubu  says  that  it  is  he  who  causes  both  Mankind 
and  Beasts  to  rot.  ” 

Then  Porcupine,  in  fear  went  out,  running,  going  to  the 
town  of  Hog.  Whereupon  Hog,  being  startled,  asked  him, 
“Chum!  what  is  it?”  He  answered  him,  “I’m  afraid  of 
Ikingi.  Ngomba  says  that  he  is  the  one  who  causes  both 
Beasts  and  Mankind  to  rot.  ” 

Hog  at  once  ran  out  in  terror,  and  went  to  a river  with  all 
his  family.  And  the  water  of  the  river  was  promptly  crowded 
out,  leaving  its  channel  dry. 

Then  the  Fishes  (mistaking  this  motion  of  the  water) 
arose  in  haste,  saying,  “The  people  who  bail  the  river  have 
come!”  And  they  fled. 

Then  Crocodile  opened  his  mouth  wide;  and  the  fishes  in 
their  flight  began  to  enter  into  his  stomach.  Among  them 
was  ingongo-Kenda  (a  young  kenda;  a fish  with  spines  like  a 
catfish).  When  Crocodile  was  about  to  swallow,  the  spines 
caught  fast  in  his  throat.  And  Crocodile  died  at  once. 

Then  the  Fishes  sang  a song  of  rejoicing. 

“Ngando,  with  stealing, 

Ngando  died  by  a sting  in  his  throat.” 

Such  was  the  death  that  Crocodile  died,  on  account  of  his 
attempt  to  swallow  Fishes,  who  had  rushed  into  his  open 
mouth,  as  they  fled,  alarmed  by  the  confusion  raised  by  the 
panic  of  the  other  animals. 


TALE  31 

A Family  Quarrel 
Persons 

Iheli  (Gazelle)  Nja  (Leopard) 

NOTE 

Among  native  Africans,  in  the  case  of  a man  and  his  wife, 
even  if  they  fight  together,  her  father  or  her  brother  usually 


202 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


do  not  interfere.  For,  every  man  who  is  married  knows 
that  his  own  wife  will  some  day  offend  himself. 

Gazelle  and  Leopard  built  a town;  living  this  one  at  his 
end  of  it;  that  one  at  the  other  end.  After  they  had  built; 
they  cleared  the  forest  for  plantations;  they  married  wives; 
and  they  sat  down,  resting  in  their  seats. 

Gazelle  had  married  the  sister  of  Leopard  who  was  of  a 
proud  disposition.  And  Leopard  had  publicly  threatened, 
“The  person  who  makes  trouble  for  my  sister,  I will  show 
him  a thing.” 

One  day,  the  sister  of  Leopard  began  to  give  Gazelle  some 
impertinence.  Gazelle  said  to  her,  “Shut  your  mouth!” 
She  replied,  “I  won’t  shut  it!”  Gazelle  threatened,  “Lest 
I beat  you!”  She  dared  him,  “Come  and  beat  me!  You 
will  see  my  brother  coming  to  chew  you!”  Gazelle  ran 
after  her,  struck  her,  ndo!  and  knocked  her  to  the  ground, 
ndi!  As  she  lay  there,  he  kept  on  beating  her,  and  beating 
her,  and  shouting,  “Who  has  married!  Who  has  not  mar- 
ried?” 

Leopard  bristled  up  his  whole  mane,  full  of  anger,  and  was 
about  to  go  to  Gazelle’s  end  of  the  town  to  fight.  But  the 
older  people  said  to  him,  “You  hear  what  Iheli  says,  ‘Who 
has  not  married’?” 

Leopard  was  at  once  disheartened.  He  saw  there  was  no 
place  for  his  bravery  in  a matter  of  marriage. 


TALE  32 
The  Giant  Goat 
Persons 

Kudu  (Tortoise)  Ngweya  (Hog) 

Nja  (Leopard)  Betoli  (Rats) 

A Giant  Goat  (Mbodi)  Ngwai  (Partridge) 

NOTE 

Tortoise  and  Leopard  had  lived  in  peace  in  the  same  town, 
until  their  mutual  use  and  abuse  of  the  great  Goat,  the 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


203 


gift  of  Njambe,  the  Creator.  A leopard  is  not  satisfied 
unless  he  first  takes  the  heart  of  the  animal  he  has  killed. 


Tortoise  and  Leopard  built  a town  together.  There  they 
stayed.  After  they  had  built,  they  cleared  plantations. 
Their  food  was  only  vegetables;  for,  they  had  no  meat. 
Their  hunger  for  meat  became  great.  Their  hunters  killed 
nothing. 

One  day,  Tortoise,  as  he  went  in  search  of  food,  going  and 
penetrating  in  the  forest,  came  upon  the  Goat  of  Njambe 
(a  mythical,  enormous  animal)  in  the  forest  by  itself,  and 
tied.  It  told  Tortoise  who  and  what  it  was,  and  invited 
him  to  enter.  He  said  to  It,  “Mbodi,  Friend-of-Njambe! 
open  for  me  your  house!’  The  Goat  opened  an  aperture 
of  its  body;  Tortoise  entered  in;  and  It  closed  the  aperture. 
Inside  of  the  Goat,  Tortoise  cut  pieces  of  fine  fat,  and  tied 
them  into  two  bundles.  Then  he  said,  “Mbodi,  friend  of 
Njambe!  open  for  me  the  house!”  It  opened  the  aperture; 
Tortoise  at  once  went  out;  and  It  shut  it. 

Tortoise  returned  to  his  town,  and  cut  up  the  meat.  He 
said  to  his  women,  “Make  ready  leaves  for  momba!”  (bund- 
les of  green  plantain  leaves  in  which  meats  are  cooked  over 
hot  coals).  They  at  once  plucked  the  leaves,  tied  up  the 
momba,  and  put  them  over  the  fireplace.  They  set  soup  also 
on  the  fireplace.  When  it  was  boiled,  they  spread  the  table, 
sat  down  together,  and  ate. 

The  children  of  Leopard,  smelling  a tempting  odor,  came 
to  Tortoise’s  end  of  the  town.  The  children  of  Tortoise 
showed  their  food  to  them,  saying,  exultingly,  “Ye!  do  you 
eat  such  as  that?”  A child  of  Leopard  said,  “Chum!  let 
me  taste  it!”  And  he  allowed  him  to  taste  it. 

The  children  of  Leopard  went  off  hurriedly  to  their  father, 
saying,  “Father!  such  an  animal  as  your  friend  has  killed! 
Perhaps  it  is  Ngweya;  we  do  not  know.” 

Then  Leopard  went  to  where  Tortoise  was,  and  he  asked 
him,  “Chum!  as  to  this  meat-hunger,  what  shall  we  do? 
Let  us  arrange  for  the  town.”  Tortoise  responded.  “Yes, 
I am  willing.”  So,  in  the  evening,  he  invited  his  friend 
Leopard  that  he  should  come  and  eat  food.  Leopard  came; 


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they  sat  down  together;  and  they  ate.  When  Leopard  had 
tasted,  he  exclaimed,  “Man!  what  animal  is  this?”  But 
Tortoise  would  not  tell  him.  When  they  had  finished  eat- 
ing, Leopard  said  to  himself,  “I  must  know  where  Tortoise 
goes!” 

On  the  next  day,  before  the  Ngwai  (a  Bird,  that  announces 
the  first  coming  of  daylight)  had  sounded,  Tortoise  went 
out  clear  on  to  where  was  that  giant  Goat.  He  spoke,  as  on 
his  previous  journey,  “O!  Mbodi!  Friend  of  the  Creator! 
open  for  me  the  house!”  It  at  once  opened  the  aperture; 
he  entered  in;  and  began  to  slice  pieces  of  meat  from  the 
Goat’s  inside.  When  he  had  finished,  he  said,  “Open  for  me 
the  house!”  It  opened  the  aperture;  and  he  emerged  and 
went  back  to  his  town.  There  he  spoke  to  his  women,  saying, 
“Cook  ye!”  They  boiled  the  meat;  it  was  cooked;  he  in- 
vited Leopard;  they  ate;  and  finished.  And  Leopard  went 
back  to  his  house. 

But,  when  night  came,  Leopard  took  ashes,  and,  going 
to  the  house  of  Tortoise,  thrust  the  ashes  into  Tortoise’s 
travelling-bag,  and  stabbed  holes  in  it.  Said  he  to  himself, 
“When  Tortoise  carries  it,  then  the  ashes  will  fall  down.” 
This  he  did,  so  that  he  might  follow  to  the  place  where  Tor- 
toise would  go. 

Next  day,  Tortoise  was  up  at  the  same  time  with  the  first 
Ngwai.  And  at  daybreak,  Leopard  followed,  observing  the 
ground  closely  with  his  eyes;  and  he  saw  the  ashes.  The 
fellow,  at  once,  went  on  his  journey,  striding  quickly,  quick- 
ly, until  he  reached  to  where  the  great  Goat  was  standing. 
It  explained  to  him,  as  it  had  to  Tortoise,  its  use,  and  invited 
him  to  enter.  Said  he,  “O!  Mbodi  of  my  father  Njambe! 
open  to  me  the  house!”  And  It  opened  the  hole.  He 
entered;  and  he  discovered  Tortoise  cutting  meat.  Tortoise 
was  displeased,  and  said  to  him,  “Chum!  is  that  the  way 
you  do?”  They  cut  pieces  of  meat,  they  got  ready,  and 
they  went  back  to  town. 

The  next  day,  although  Tortoise  was  vexed  at  Leopard, 
they  started  together  on  their  journey;  and  they  arrived  at 
the  Goat.  They  said  as  before,  “O!  Mbodi!  Friend!  open 
to  us  the  house!”  It  opened  the  aperture;  and  they  entered. 
Tortoise  warned  Leopard,  “Chum!  Nja!  don’t  touch  the 
heart!”  They  cut  meat.  Then  Leopard  said  that  he  was 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


205 


going  to  lay  hold  of  the  heart.  But  Tortoise  said,  “No!” 
Leopard  cut  and  cut,  and  was  going  on  to  the  heart.  Tor- 
toise again  said  to  him,  “Not  so!”  They  went  on  cutting. 
Finally  Leopard  laid  hold  of  the  heart!  The  Goat  at  once 
made  a great  outcry,  “Ma-a!  Mba-a!”  and  died  in- 
stantly. 

The  people  of  the  town  that  was  near  by,  heard,  and  they 
said,  “The  Mbodi!  what  has  happened  to  it?  Young  men! 
go  ye!  Hasten  ye ! for,  that  Mbodi  is  crying ! ” They  went, 
and  discovered  the  body  of  the  Goat  stretched  out.  They 
went  back  to  the  town  and  told  the  people  that,  “The  Mbodi 
is  dead ! ” 

While  this  was  going  on,  as  soon  as  Tortoise  inside  the 
body  knew  that  the  Goat  was  dying,  he  began  to  seek  for  a 
hiding-place.  He  said,  “I  am  for  the  stomach!”  Leopard 
said,  “No!  that  is  the  hiding-place  of  the  elder  one”  (himself). 
Then  Tortoise  said,  “I  will  go  and  hide  in  the  bowels.” 
Leopard  said,  “That  also  is  the  hiding  place  of  the  elder.” 
Then  Tortoise  said,  “Well!  I’m  going  to  hide  in  the  fountain 
of  the  water  of  the  belly”  (the  urinary  bladder) . Leopard 
said,  “Yes!  that  is  the  share  of  the  younger.”  Tortoise 
thrust  himself  in  there.  Leopard  jumped  into  the  stomach. 

When  the  people  came,  they  discovered  the  Goat  lying 
flat,  and  they  said,  “Tie  ye  it!”  (to  carry  it  away).  Others 
said,  “No!  let  it  be  butchered  here.”  They  all  said,  “Yes!” 
And  they  cut  it  in  pieces.  They  took  out  the  entire  stomach, 
and  laid  it  aside.  They  took  that  fountain,  and  flung  it  out 
in  the  bushes. 

Concealed  by  the  bushes,  Tortoise  crawled  out  of  the  sac, 
and,  pretending  to  be  displeased,  called  out,  “Who  dashed 
that  dirty  water  in  my  face,  as  I was  coming  here,  seeking 
for  my  fungi  here  in  the  forest?”  They  apologized,  saying. 
“Chum!  wTe  did  not  know  you  were  in  those  bushes.  But, 
come,  and  join  us.”  So,  he  went  there;  and  he,  in  pretence, 
exclaimed,  “What  thing  can  so  suddenly  have  killed  Friend- 
Creator  his  Mbodi  there?  Alas!  But,  Ime!  what  a large 
stomach  that  is!  Would  you  say  that  it  was  not  it  that 
killed  Mbodi?  Let  us  send  some  children  to  pierce  that 
stomach.  But  ye!  when  ye  shall  go  to  pierce  it,  first  bring 
spears,  then  jab  the  spears  through  it.  I have  not  seen  such 
a stomach  as  that!” 


206 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


They  finished  the  cutting  in  pieces;  and  they  gave  Tortoise 
his  share  of  the  animal.  He  left,  bidding  them  await  his 
return.  He  went  hastily  with  the  meat  to  his  town,  and  sat 
down  to  rest  for  only  a little  while.  Then  he  rapidly  went 
back  again  to  see  what  would  happen  to  Leopard. 

The  family  of  Njambe  had  taken  that  stomach  and  laid 
it  in  the  water  of  a stream.  Then  they  took  spears,  and  they 
stabbed  it.  Leopard,  being  wounded,  struggled  up  and 
down  as  he  tried  to  emerge  from  inside  the  stomach.  The 
people,  when  they  saw  this,  shouted,  “Aw!  la!  la!  la!”  And 
there  was  Leopard  lying  dead!  For,  in  stabbing  that  stom- 
ach, the  spears  had  reached  Leopard. 

Tortoise  said  to  them,  “Give  me  the  skin  of  Leopard!” 
So  they  handed  it  to  him.  He  went  off  with  it  to  his  house. 
When  it  was  dried,  he  took  it  into  his  inner  room,  and  hung 
it  up.  He  said  to  his  children,  “Let  no  person  bring  any 
of  the  children  of  Nja  into  this  room.  ” 

Before  that  time,  the  children  of  Tortoise  and  of  Leopard 
always  hunted  small  animals;  and  they  were  accustomed 
daily  to  kill  rats  in  their  houses. 

On  another  day,  the  children  of  Leopard  having  no  meat, 
and  not  knowing  that  their  father  was  dead  said,  “A  hunt  for 
Betoli  tomorrow ! ” The  children  of  Tortoise  replied,  “Yes ! ” 
Early  in  the  next  day  then,  the  children  of  Leopard  made 
ready  and  called  for  those  of  Tortoise;  and  they  all  started 
together. 

They  began  at  first  at  Leopard’s  end  of  the  town;  and, 
going  from  house  to  house,  opened  the  houses  and  killed 
rats.  They  passed  on  toward  Tortoise’s  end  of  the  town, 
opening  houses,  and  killing  rats.  When  they  came  to  the 
room  of  Tortoise  himself,  his  children  said  to  the  others, 
“No!”  The  children  of  Leopard  asked  them,  “Why?” 
As  they  arrived  at  the  door,  the  children  of  Tortoise  said, 
“Our  father  said  that,  even  for  catching  rats,  we  should  not 
enter  that  room.  ” But  the  children  of  Leopard  broke  down 
the  door,  and  entered  into  the  room.  There  they  lifted  their 
eyes,  and  discovered  the  skin  of  their  father  Leopard  hanging! 
At  once,  they  all  hasted  out  of  the  house.  But,  suppressing 
their  sorrow  and  indignation,  shortly  after  this,  they  all  said, 
“To  go  to  throw  wheels  on  the  beach!”  (a  game;  solid 
wheels,  about  eight  or  ten  inches  in  diameter,  and  some 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


207 


three  inches  thick,  chopped  out  of  an  enormous  tuber). 
They  made  ready  their  little  spears,  and  they  all  went  in  a 
company.  Their  challenge  was,  “To  the  beach !”  These 
arranged  themselves  on  one  side,  and  those  on  the  other. 

The  children  of  Tortoise  began  the  game,  rolling  the  wheel 
to  the  children  of  Leopard.  These  latter,  as  the  wheel 
rolled  by,  pierced  its  center  with  all  their  spears;  none  failed. 
The  Leopard  company  shouted  in  victory.  “Boho,  eh?” 
And  the  Tortoise  company  dared  them  with,  “Iwa!”  Then 
the  Leopard  company  insultingly  retorted,  “We  are  the 
ones  who  are  accustomed  to  sleep  with  people’s  sisters,  and 
continue  to  eat  with  them!”  ( i . e.,  that  they  could  commit 
crimes  with  impunity,  and  still  be  allowed  the  intimate 
friendship  of  eating  together,  without  the  others  daring  to 
punish  them). 

Then  the  Leopard  company  bowled  the  wheel  toward  the 
side  of  the  Tortoise  company.  These  latter  pierced  the 
wheel  with  all  their  spears;  none  missed.  The  Tortoise 
company  shouted  for  victory,  “Boho!  eh?”  And  the  Leo- 
pard company  dared  them  with,  “Iwa!”  Then  the  Tortoise 
children  shouted  boastfully,  “We  are  those  who  are  accus- 
tomed to  kill  people’s  fathers,  and  hang  up  their  skins,  eh?” 

At  this,  the  Leopard  children  began  to  rage,  and  joined  a 
fight  with  the  children  of  Tortoise. 

The  children  of  Tortoise,  and  himself,  and  their  wives 
and  their  children,  fled  and  scattered  over  the  logs  into  the 
stream  of  water,  and  hid  themselves  in  holes,  and  never  came 
back  to  town. 


208 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


TALE  33 

The  Fights  of  Mbuma-Tyetye  and  An  Origin  of  the 

Leopard 


Persons 


Mekuku,  and  Two  of  His  Sons 
Mbuma-Tyetye  and  Nja 
King  Njambu 
Betoli  (Rats) 

Mwamba  (Snakes) 

Ngangala  (Millepedes) 

Kedi  (Stinging  Ants) 

Njambu  Ya  Mekuku  (Spirits), 
and  His  Town 
Women  Hidden  in  Chests 

Ngalo  (A  Ma 


Ngwaye  (Partridge) 

Ka  (Snails) 

Ihonga-Honga  (A  Giant 
Tooth) 

Hova  (A  Magic  Gourd) 
Tanga  (Horn) 

Ibumbu  (Bundle  of  Medi- 
cine) 

Kanja  (A  Bowl) 

Ikanga  (Spear) 

;ic  Amulet) 


note 

Ngalo  is  a powerful  fetish-charm.  Sitting  in  a visitor’s 
lap  for  a few  moments,  is  a mode  of  welcome. 

“Njambu”  is  one  of  their  forms  of  spelling  the  name  of 
the  Creator;  very  commonly  used  also  for  human  beings. 
The  account  of  the  wrestling-match  is  suggestive  of  the 
surroundings  of  a modern  athletic  field. 


Njambu  built  a Town.  He  continued  there  a long  time. 
After  he  had  finished  the  town,  he  married  very  many  wives. 
After  a short  time  they  all  of  them  bore  children.  Those 
births  were  of  many  sons.  He  gave  them  names:  Among 
them  were,  Upuma-mwa-penda  (Year-of-doubt),  and  Nja 
(Leopard) . 

And  again,  his  wives,  after  a short  time,  all  of  them  became 
mothers.  This  time,  they  gave  birth  to  a large  number  of 
daughters.  He  gave  them  also  names. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


209 


His  town  was  full  with  men  and  women;  they  were  crowded. 
And  all  busy.  They  that  worked  at  stakes,  went  to  cut 
saplings;  those  that  made  rattan-ropes,  went  to  cut  the 
rattan-vine;  they  that  shaped  the  bamboo  for  building, 
went  to  cut  the  bamboo-palms;  they  that  made  thatch  went 
to  gather  the  palm-leaves;  they  that,  set  up  the  stakes  of  the 
house-frame  went  to  thrust  them  into  the  ground;  they  who 
fastened  the  walls,  fastened  them;  they  who  tied  thatch  on 
the  roof,  tied  it;  they  who  split  the  rattan  vines  for  tying, 
split  them. 

The  town  was  full  of  noise.  The  children  of  Njambu  kept 
their  father’s  town  in  motion.  They  rejoiced  in  the  abundance 
of  people  and  their  force.  They  took  dowries  also  for  their 
sisters,  and  gave  them  in  marriage  to  young  men  of  other 
towns. 

Arguments  were  discussed;  stories  about  White  Men  were 
told ; amusements  were  played ; food  was  eaten ; and  the  sons 
of  Njambu  married  wives. 

One  of  Njambu’s  sons,  Upuma-mwa-penda,  said  to  his 
mother,  “Make  me  mekima,”  (mashed  plantain).  His 
mother  asked  him,  “Where  are  you  going  with  the  mekima?” 
He  answered,  “I’m  going  to  seek  a marriage.”  And  she 
said  “Good!” 

In  the  morning,  he  took  his  rolls  of  mashed  plantains, 
and  started  to  go  on  his  journey.  He  said  to  his  mother, 
“You  must  keep  my  house.”  She  replied,  “It  is  well.” 

He  went  on,  on,  on,  until,  on  the  road  ahead,  he  met  with 
two  Rats,  who  were  fighting.  He  took  an  ukima-roll,  divid- 
ed it,  and  gave  to  them,  saying,  “Take  ye  and  eat.”  They 
accepted,  and  told  him,  “ You  shall  arrive  at  the  end.” 

He  goes  on  stepping  quickly,  quickly;  and  meets  two 
Snakes  fighting.  He  parted  them.  He  took  an  ukima-roll 
and  gave  to  them;  they  ate.  They  said  to  him,  “You  shall 
reach  the  end.  ” 

He  goes  on  with  his  journey,  until  ahead  were  two  Mille- 
pedes fighting.  He  said  to  them,  “For  what  are  you  killing 
each  other?  ” He  parted  them,  and  gave  them  an  ukuma-roll. 
They  took  it  and  said,  “You  shall  reach  the  end!” 

He  lay  down  in  the  forest  at  night.  At  midnight,  his 
mother  saw,  in  her  sleep,  something  that  said,  “Go  with  thy 
two  daughters  in  the  morning,  and  take  food  for  Mbuma- 
Tyetye  (another  name  for  Upuma-mwa-penda). 


210 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Early  in  the  morning,  she  awoke  her  two  daughters,  and 
said,  “Come!  let  us  go  to  follow  after  your  brother;  he  is  still 
on  his  way.  ” 

They  started,  on,  on,  on,  until  they  found  him  sitting  down 
in  the  path.  They  brought  out  the  food  from  their  traveling- 
bag,  and  they  said,  “ We  have  come  to  give  you  food,  ” They 
prepared  the  meal,  and  they  ate.  And  they  slept  that  night 
in  the  forest. 

Next  morning,  they  started  again,  and  they  walked  on, 
on,  on,  with  their  journey.  As  they  came  on  their  way, 
they  listened  ahead,  and  they  heard  something,  saying,  “Eh! 
fellows,  eh!  eh!  fellows  eh!  Nobody  shall  pass!  Nobody 
shall  pass  here!” 

When  they  drew  near,  they  met  an  immense  quantity  of 
Red  stinging  Ants  spread  from  the  ground  up  to  the  tree- 
tops,  entirely  closing  the  way.  Mbuma-tyetye  and  his 
company  said,  “Ah!  these  are  they  who  were  shouting  here!” 
He  advanced  to  the  fight,  and  called  to  his  younger  sister, 
“Come  on!” 

She  lifted  her  foot  just  to  tread  upon  the  Ants;  and  they 
instantly  entirely  covered  her.  He  and  his  company  tried 
in  vain  to  draw  her  back.  The  Ants  shouted,  to  strengthen 
themselves.  “Eh!  fellows,  eh!” 

He,  still  fighting,  called  to  the  elder  sister,  “On  ahead!” 
Just  as  she  lifted  her  foot,  there  came  all  the  Tribe  of  Red 
Ants,  and  would  have  covered  her  up.  The  woman  jumped 
to  one  side  vigorously,  and  stood  there  in  that  spot,  fanning 
away  the  sweat  of  her  exertions,  pe,  pe,  pe.  She  returned 
again  to  the  Ants;  and  they  met.  She  called  out,  “Ngalo! 
hot  water!”  and  it  appeared.  She  took  it,  and  dashed  it 
at  the  Red  Ants.  But  they  all  went  into  their  holes;  and 
came  out  at  another  opening,  again  closing  the  path.  She 
still  stood  there  ready  to  fight;  but  they  covered  her,  and 
dragged  her  behind  them. 

The  Ants  shouted  over  their  victory,  “Eh!  fellows,  eh! 
Today  no  person  passes  here!” 

The  son  called  to  his  mother,  “Mother!  come  on!”  His 
mother  said,  “My  child!  I am  unable.”  He  called,  “Ngalo! 
Eire!”  Fire  at  once  appeared.  Having  drawn  back  the 
corpses  of  his  sisters,  he  seized  the  fire,  and  thrust  it  into  the 
nests  of  the  Ants.  He  thrust  it  also  among  the  trees.  The 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


211 


flame  ignited  them;  and  the  surrounding  forest  burned  to 
ashes  with  all  the  trees.  And  the  Ants  were  all  burned  too. 

Then  he  brought  his  sisters  to  life,  by  taking  that  ashes, 
and  throwing  it  over  them,  and  down  their  throats  into 
their  stomachs. 

When  the  day  darkened,  he  said,  “Ngalo!  a house!”  A 
tent  at  once  appeared,  with  a table,  and  tumblers,  and  water, 
and  all  food.  They  sat  there  and  ate.  When  they  finished 
eating,  they  set  tea  on  the  table.  They  drank;  they  talked 
of  their  experiences.  When  they  ended,  they  said,  “Let  us 
lie  down  together.  ” So  they  lay  down  for  the  night. 

As  the  next  day  was  coming,  a Partridge  gave  forth  its 
voice,  “Rise!  tyatya  la!  tyatya  la!”  And  the  day  broke 
also.  They  wash  their  faces;  they  set  tea  on  the  table,  and 
drank  it.  They  folded  the  tent-house,  and  swallowed  it, 
(as  a mode  of  carrying  it).  They  started  with  their  journey, 
and  went  conversing  on  the  way. 

As  they  came  along,  Something  was  heard  ahead.  They 
listened,  and  heard  a song.  “Gribamba!  eh!  Gribamba! 
eh!”  Mbuma-tyetye  and  his  mother  and  sisters  kept  on 
going  toward  the  sound,  which  continued,  “Dingala!  eh! 
A person  will  not  pass!  No  doubt  about  it!  Dingala!  eh! 
Wherever  he  comes  from,  he  can  pass  here  only  by  coming 
from  above.  ” 

The  man  and  his  company  approached  the  source  of  the 
song,  and  exclaimed,  “There  it  is!”  They  went  on  and 
found  the  entire  tribe  of  Snails  filling  the  road  hither  and 
yonder.  He  said  to  his  mother,  “What  shall  we  do  with 
the  Ka  Tribe? ” They  sat  down  to  consider.  They  decided, 
“A  fight!  this  very  day!”  They  sat  still,  and  rested  for  a 
while.  Then  he  went  ahead  and  shouted  to  his  younger 
sister,  “Come!”  She  called  out,  “Ngalo!  a short  sword!” 
It  appeared.  She  called  again,  “A  strong  cloth!”  It 
appeared,  and  she  dressed  herself  with  it. 

As  she  approached  the  Snails,  one  of  them  fell  on  her  head 
with  a thud,  ndi!  She  took  the  sword,  and  struck  it,  ko! 
The  Snails  shouted,  “We’re  nearing  you!”  A crowd  of 
them  came  rapidly,  one  after  another;  in  a heap,  they  entirely 
covered  her,  vya!  And  she  lay  a corpse!  The  Snails 
swarmed  over  her,  and  taking  her,  threw  her  behind  them. 
They  shouted  in  victory,  “Taka!  Dingala!  eh!” 


212 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Then  the  elder  sister  said  she  was  going  to  help  her  brother 
in  facing  the  Snails.  Her  mother  objected,  “You?  Stay!” 
But  she  replied,  “Let  me  go!”  She  girded  her  body  tightly, 
and  then  she  entered  the  fight.  The  Snails  surrounded  her. 
They  were  about  to  drag  her  to  their  rear,  when,  she,  at  the 
side  of  the  path,  attempted  to  spring  from  them.  But  they 
swarmed  over  her.  And  she  lay  a corpse ! The  mother  was 
crying  out,  “O!  My  child!”  when  the  Snails  covered  her 
too. 

Mbuma-tyetye  retreated,  to  rest  himself  for  a short  time, 
and  called  out,  “Ngalo!  a helmet!”  It  appeared.  He  fitted 
it  to  his  head.  He  called  again,  “Ngalo!  a glass  of  strong 
drink,  and  of  water  too!”  It  appeared.  He  asked  for 
tobacco.  It  appeared.  “Matches!”  They  appeared.  He 
struck  a match,  and  smoked.  As  he  thrust  the  cigar  in  his 
mouth,  it  stimulated  him;  it  told  him  things  of  the  future  in 
its  clouds  of  smoke.  After  he  had  rested,  he  stood  up,  again 
for  the  fight. 

The  Snails  tuned  their  song: 

“Iya!  Dingala!  disabete! 

Iya!  Dingala!  salalasala!  Disabete! 

Iya!  Dingala!  Iya!  Dingala! 

Iya!  Dingala!  Salalasala! 

Iya!  Dingala!  Eh!  Bamo-eh!” 

The  Snails,  in  their  fierce  charge,  killed  him,  and  were 
about  to  take  away  the  corpse;  when,  his  Ngalo  returning 
him  to  life,  he  sprang  erect,  and  cried  out,  “Ah!  my  Father 
Njambu!  Dibadi-O!” 

And  he  took  up  his  war-song : — 

“Tata  Njambu  ya  milole,  milole  mi  we. 

Ta’  Njambu!  milole  mi  we. 

Ta’  Njambu!  milole  mi  we. 

Milole  mi  we.  Ta’  Njambu!” 

All  that  while,  the  mother  and  his  sisters  were  lying  dead. 
The  Snails  were  shouting  in  their  victory,  “Taka!” 
Mbuma-tyetye  took  a short  broad  knife  in  his  hands,  and 
shouted,  “Dibadi!”  He  girded  his  body  firmly,  and  stood 
erect.  He  called  out  in  challenge,  “I’ve  come!”  The 
Snails  answered,  “You’ve  reached  the  end!” 

They  fought.  The  man  took  his  sword.  The  Snails  fell 
down  on  him,  ndwa!  But  the  man  stood  up,  and  moved 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


213 


forward.  He  laid  hold  of  a small  tree.  He  out  it,  and 
whirled  it  about  at  the  Snails.  And  the  Snails  fell  down  on 
the  ground,  po ! But  they  rose  up  again  flinging  themselves 
upon  the  man,  ndwa!  The  man  jumped  aside  crying  out, 
“Ah!  My  father  Njambu!  Dibadi-O!” 

He  took  fire,  thrust  it  among  the  tribe  of  Snails,  and  every 
one  fell  down  on  the  ground,  mbwa! 

Then  he  shaped  a leaf  into  a funnel,  and  dropped  a medi- 
cine into  the  noses  of  his  mother  and  sisters.  They  slowly 
rose  and  tried  to  sit  up.  He  poured  the  ashes  of  the  Snails 
over  them,  po!  They  breathed  it  into  their  stomachs,  kii! 
and  they  came  fully  to  life. 

Then  they  said,  “You  are  safe!  Now!  for  our  return 
home!”  He  said,  “Good!”  And  they  returned. 

Mbuma-tyetye  continued  his  own  journey,  on,  on,  on, 
until  at  a cross-roads,  he  found  a giant  Tooth,  a^  large  as  a 
man.  Tooth  asked,  “Where  are  you  going?”  Said  he. 
“I’m  going  to  seek  a marriage  at  a town  of  Njambu-ya- 
Mekuku.”  Then,  with  his  axe  in  hand,  he  turned  aside 
from  the  path;  chopped  firewood,  chop,  chop,  chop,  chop, 
mbwa ! Then  he  kindly  carried  a lot  of  it,  and  presented  it  to 
Tooth.  He  also  opened  his  bag,  and  taking  out  an  ukima 
roll,  laid  it  down  at  the  feet  of  Tooth;  also  a bundle  of  gourd- 
seeds,  and  laid  it  down;  and  then  he  said,  “I’m  going.” 
But  the  giant  Tooth,  pleased  with  him,  said  to  him,  “Just 
wait!” 

So,  he  waited;  and,  while  waiting,  said,  “Ngalo!  a fine 
house!”  It  appeared  there.  “A  table!”  There!  “Good 
food!”  There!  “Fine  drink!”  There!  They  two  ate,  and 
drank,  and  had  conversation  together. 

Tooth  said  to  him,  “Where  you  go,  do  not  fear.”  It 
brought  out  from  its  hut  a water-gourd,  and  said,  “I  will  not 
show  you  more,  nor  will  I tell  you  anything  at  all,  but  this 
Hova  itself  will  tell  you.”  Then  Tooth  said  to  him,  “Go 
well!” 

The  man  took  the  Gourd  and  clung  to  it  as  if  it  was  a 
treasure. 

He  started  again  on  his  journey,  and  had  gone  but  a little 
way,  when  he  found  Kuda-nuts  in  immense  abundance. 
He  took  up  one,  drew  his  knife,  cracked  the  nut,  and  threw 
the  kernel  into  his  mouth.  He  stooped  again,  and  was 


214 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


about  to  pick  up  another,  when  the  Gourd  warned  him,  “I! 
I!”  So,  he  left  the  nuts. 

He  came  on  in  his  journey,  and  found  in  abundance  wild 
Mangoes.  He  took  one,  split  it,  and  bit  out  a piece;  and  was 
about  to  add  another,  when  the  warning  came,  “I!  I!”  So, 
he  left  the  Mangoes;  yet  his  belly  felt  full.  Still  on  his 
journey,  thirst  for  water  seized  him  at  a stream.  He  took 
his  cup,  plunged  it  into  the  water,  filled  it,  drank,  and  was 
about  to  take  more,  when  the  warning  said,  “I!  I!”  And 
he  left  the  water.  Yet  his  belly  felt  full. 

On  his  journey  still,  till  he  came  to  a large  river.  There 
he  stood,  and  listened,  as  he  heard  a boat-song,  “Ayehe! 
ahe!  ayehe!  e!’  There  passed  by  the  sound  of  paddles, 
worn’!  worn’!  but  he  saw  no  person;  nor  did  he  see  any  canoe. 
Gourd  said  to  him,  “Call!”  Then  he  called  out,  “Who  are 
these?  Bring  me  a canoe!”  A voice  replied,  “Who  are 
you?”  He  answered,  “I!”  The  canoe  came  nearer,  its 
crew  singing,  singing,  until  it  grounded  on  the  beach.  He 
saw  what  seemed  only  a great  log!  Gourd  said  to  him, 
“Embark!”  He  got  in.  The  crew  also  (apparently)  got 
in  again;  for,  the  sound  of  paddles  was  again  heard,  worom’! 
woronT ! 

Instead  of  going  straight  across  the  river,  they  pulled  far 
up  stream,  and  then  came  all  the  way  down  again  on  the 
other  side.  As  they  came,  they  were  constantly  keeping  up 
the  song,  until  they  grounded  at  the  landing-place  at  that 
other  side.  Still  he  saw  nothing  of  the  invisible  boatmen, 
when  he  landed. 

Ascending  the  bank  of  the  stream,  he  saw  a strange  new 
town.  He  entered  its  public  reception-house,  and  sat  down. 
As  he  was  looking  for  some  one  to  come,  a Horn  came  and 
sat  on  his  lap,  and  then  moved  away.  A Bundle  of  Medicine 
came,  sat,  and  moved  away.  A Bowl  came  and  sat.  A 
Spear  came  and  sat.  All  these  Things  saluted  him.  Behold! 
they  were  the  People  of  that  Town  (in  disguise) ; but  he  saw 
none  of  them. 

Gourd  said  to  him,  “Come  and  escort  me  into  the  back- 
yard.” He  at  once  stepped  out;  and,  when  in  the  back- 
yard, It  said.  “Put  me  down.”  (It  had  been  carried  sus- 
pended from  his  shoulder.)  He  put  It  down,  standing  It 
at  the  foot  of  a plantain-stalk.  Gourd  making  a leaf  funnel, 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


21 5 


dropped  something  into  his  eyes  His  eyes  suddenly,  kaa! 
were  opened,  and  he  saw  everything,  and  all  the  people,  and 
the  whole  street. 

Returning  to  the  house,  he  sat  down.  Maidens  came.  Such 
goodness  as  you  have  scarcely  known!  Forms  lovely  to  see! 

The  Chief  of  the  town  said,  “Make  ye  food!”  It  was 
made  at  once.  Then  one  whom  he  chose  was  given  him  for 
his  wife. 

She  and  this  young  son-in-law  were  left  sitting  in  the 
house.  The  wife  began  to  weep,  saying  to  herself,  “What 
will  be  his  manner  of  eating?”  (a  test  to  be  applied  to  him 
as  suitor) . The  Gourd  called  him  with  a voice  like  the  stroke 
of  a bell,  ngeng!  He  went  out  to  the  Gourd,  and  It  said  to 
him,  “When  you  shall  eat,  take  one  piece  of  plantain,  flesh 
of  the  fowl,  and  then  dip  one  spoonful  of  the  udika  (wild- 
mango  gravy),  put  them  in  your  mouth;  and  thou  shalt  say 
unto  her,  ‘Take;  you  may  remove  the  food.’  You  shall  see 
what  will  happen.”  He  did  so.  His  wife  laughed  in  her 
heart;  and  she  went  and  told  her  mother,  “He  is  a person  of 
sense.”  The  towns-people  said  to  her,  “What  did  he  do?” 
She  evasively  said  to  them.  “ Let  us  see ! ” 

In  the  evening,  the  father-in-law  said  to  him,  “You  have 
found  us  here  in  the  midst  of  a work  of  garden-making  for 
your  mother-in-law.”  (A  man  is  always  expected  to  do 
some  work  for  his  wife’s  mother.)  He  said.  “That’s  good, 
Father!” 

Gourd  called  to  him,  and  told  him,  “It  is  not  a garden; 
it  is  an  entire  forest;  it  is  not  planted;  it  is  all  wild  country. 
But,  tomorrow,  at  daylight,  early,  you  say  to  your  wife 
that  she  must  go  and  show  you.  You  must  take  one  young 
plantain-set,  and  a machete,  and  an  axe.  When  you  shall 
arrive  there,  then  you  shall  say  to  her,  “Go  back!”  And 
she  will  go  baek.  Then,  you  will  slash  with  the  machete, 
kwa!  and  leave  it.  You  take  also  the  axe  and  cut,  ka!  and 
say,  ‘Ngunga-O!  Mekud’  O!  Makako  ma  dibake  man- 
jeya-O!’  You  shall  see  what  will  happen.  Then  you 
insert  the  plantain-set  in  the  ground.  Then  you  set  up  a 
bellows,  and  work  it.  And  you  shall  see  what  will  happen.  ” 

(All  that  Garden-Plan  was  made  by  the  townspeople  in 
order  that  he  might  weary  of  the  task,  and  they  then  find 
excuse  for  killing  him.  For  they  were  Cannibals.) 


21 6 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


At  daybreak,  he  did  so.  He  called  his  wife.  He  and  she 
went  on  until  they  came  to  the  chosen  spot.  Said  he,  “Go 
back!”  The  woman  went  back.  He  did  just  as  he  had 
been  directed,  as  to  the  clearing,  and  the  felling,  the  incanta- 
tion, and  the  planting.  The  plantains  bore,  and  ripened  at 
once.  Every  kind  of  food  developed  in  that  very  hour. 

The  man  went  back  to  the  town,  and  sat  down.  They  set 
before  him  food. 

They  sent  a child  to  spy  the  garden.  The  child  returned, 
excitedly  saying,  “Men!  the  entire  forest!  with  all  such  foods! 
only  ripe  ones!”  They  said  to  him,  “You’re  telling  a false- 
hood!” And  they  said,  “Let  another  go  and  see.”  He 
went;  and  returned  thence  with  a ripe  plantain  held  in  his 
hand. 

In  the  evening,  the  Chief  said  to  him,  “Sir!  tomorrow, 
people  will  have  been  filled  with  hunger  for  meat.  A little 
pond  of  your  mother-in-law  is  over  there.  Tomorrow  it  is 
to  be  bailed  out.”  (In  order  to  get  the  fish  that  would  be 
left  in  the  bottom  pools.) 

Gourd  called  him,  ngeng!  He  went  to  It,  and  It  said, 
“That  is  not  a pond,  it  is  a great  river,  (like  the  Lobi  at 
Batanga).  However,  when  you  shall  go,  you  must  take  one 
log  up  stream  and  one  log  down  stream  (for  a pretence  of 
dams).  You  shall  see  what  will  happen.  Then  you  must 
bail  only  once,  and  say,  ‘Itata-O!’  You  shall  see.” 

Next  morning,  he  did  so.  And  the  whole  river  was  drained; 
and  the  fish  were  left  in  the  middle,  alone.  He  returned  to 
the  town,  and  sat  down.  The  people  went  to  see;  and,  they 
were  frightened  at  the  abundance  of  fish.  For  a whole 
month,  fish  were  gathered;  and  fish  still  were  left. 

The  Chief  went  to  call  his  townspeople,  saying,  “We  will 
do  nothing  to  this  fellow.  Let  him  alone;  for,  you  have 
tried  him  with  every  test.”  They  said,  “Yes;  and  he  has 
lingered  here,”  (i.  e.,  was  no  longer  a stranger;  and  there- 
fore should  not  be  eaten).  But,  they  said,  “Tomorrow 
there  will  be  only  wrestling.”  (This  was  said  deceitfully.) 

In  the  evening,  the  father-in-law  called  him,  saying, 
“ Mbuma-tyetye,  tomorrow  there  is  only  wrestling.  You 
have  stayed  long  here.  As  you  are  about  to  go  away  with 
my  child,  there  is  left  only  one  thing  more  that  she  wants  to 
see,  that  is,  the  wrestling  tomorrow.” 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


217 


Gourd  called  him,  and  said  to  him,  “It  is  not  only  for 
wrestling.  You  know  the  part  of  the  village  where  is  the 
Wrestling-Ground.  There  is  a big  pit  there.  You  will  take 
care  if  you  are  near  that  pit;  and  you  must  push  them  in.  ” 

In  the  evening,  food  was  made,  and  soon  it  was  ready. 
He  and  his  wife  ate,  and  finished.  They  engaged  in  conversa- 
tion. They  took  pleasure  over  their  love  that  night. 

The  next  day,  in  the  morning,  very  early,  the  drums, 
both  the  elimbi  and  the  common,  began  promptly  to  tell 
things  in  the  street.  (The  Elimbi  is  a specially  made  drum 
used  to  transmit  information  by  a system  of  signal  strokes. 
News  is  thus  carried  very  far  and  very  rapidly.)  The  Gourd 
called  him,  and  handed  him  a leaf  of  magic- medicine,  to  hold 
in  his  hand,  saying,  “Go;  fear  not!” 

The  townspeople  began  to  shout  back  and  forth  a song 
(to  arouse  enthusiasm).  Two  companies  ranged  on  each 
side  of  the  street,  singing.  “ Engolongolo ! ha!  ha!  Engolo- 
ngolo!  ha!  ha!” 

“Engolongolo!  ha!  ha! 

Engolongolo!  ha!  ha!” 

Hearing  their  song  as  a challenge,  the  young  man  went 
out  of  the  house  into  the  street.  Up  to  this  point,  the 
strongest  wrestler  of  the  town,  named  Ekwamekwa,  was 
not  with  them;  he  was  out  in  the  forest,  felling  trees. 

When  the  towns-people  saw  the  young  man  standing  in 
the  street,  they  advanced  as  many  as  a hundred  all  at  once. 
He  laid  his  hands  upon  them,  and  they  all  went  back;  he 
also  went  back.  Soon  he  advanced  again,  and  his  single 
opponent  advanced.  They  two  laid  their  hands  on  each 
other’s  shoulders.  The  townspeople  began  another  song, 
as  if  in  derision.  “0!0!A!CM0!A!0!0!A! 

At  once,  he  seized  his  opponent,  and  threw  him  into  the 
pit.  Thereupon,  his  father-in-law  shouted  in  commenda- 
tion, “Iwa!” 

Another  one  came  forward;  Mbuma-tyetye  advanced;  and 
as  they  met  together,  he  took  him,  and  threw  him  into  the 
pit.  Again  the  shout,  “Iwa!” 

The  sisters  of  the  two  men  in  the  pit  began  to  cry.  The 
others  said  to  the  girls,  “What  are  you  doing?  He  shall 
die  today!  It  is  we  who  shall  eat  those  entrails  today!” 
(Among  cannibals,  a choice  portion.) 


218 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Another  one  was  coming,  and,  as  they  met  together, 
again  the  shout  of  derision,  “0!  0!  0!  A!  0!  0!  O!  A!  O!  O! 
CM  A!”  But,  at  one  fling,  Mbuma-tyetye  cast  him  into  the 
pit.  “Iwa”  was  repeated. 

The  sister  of  him  who  was  thrown  thus  into  the  pit  began 
to  cry.  The  people  rebuked  her,  “Mbaba!  mbaba!  Join 
in  the  singing!” 

Another  one  was  coming;  Mbuma-tyetye  advanced;  and 
as  they  came  together,  he  lifted  him,  holding  him  by  the 
foot.  The  singers,  to  encourage  their  man,  said  responsively, 
“Dikubwe!  Dikubwe!  Fear  not  an  elephant  with  his  tusks! 
Take  off ! take  off ! ” Mbuma-tyetye  lifted  him,  and  promptly 
pushed  him  down  into  the  pit,  with  a thud,  ‘kodom’ ! 

The  people  began  to  call  out  anxiously,  “We-e!  we-e!  CM 
They  are  overcome!  They  are  overcome!  CM  Some  one 
must  go  hastily,  and  call  Ekwamekwa,  and  tell  him  that 
people  are  being  destroyed  in  the  town,  and  he  must  come 
quickly.  ” 

Some  one  got  up,  and  ran  to  call  Ekwamekwa,  wailing  as 
he  went,  “Iya!  Iya!  Iya!  Ekwamekwa,  iya-CM  Come! 
People  are  exterminated  in  the  town!” 

He  heard  with  one  ear  (i.  e.  at  once).  He  snatched  up 
his  machete  and  axe,  saying,  “What  is  it?”  The  messenger 
repeated,  “Come!  a being  from  above  has  destroyed  many  a 
one  in  the  town!” 

The  man  Ekwamekwa,  full  of  boasting,  said,  “Is  it  possible 
there  is  no  man  in  the  town?”  He  came,  already  shaking 
the  muscles  of  his  chest,  pwa!  pwa  (a  custom  with  native 
wrestlers,  as  a lion  his  mane).  His  muscles  were  quivering 
with  rage,  nya ! nya ! nya ! 

The  drums,  both  the  elimbi-telegraph  and  the  common, 
were  being  beaten,  and  were  sounding  without  intermission. 
The  singers  were  shouting;  the  wrestlers’  bodies  had  perspira- 
tion flowing  from  them.  The  noise  of  the  people,  of  the  tele- 
graph drums  and  other  drums,  and  sticks  (sticks  beating 
time)  were  rattling  kwa!  kwa!  kwa! 

As  Ekwamekwa  appeared,  the  women  and  children  raised 
their  shrill  voices.  The  shouters  yelled,  “A!  la!  la!  la!  a!” 

Mbuma-tyetye  advanced  at  once.  He  and  Ekwamekwa 
laid  hold  of  one  another,  and  alternately  pressed  each  other 
backward  and  forward.  The  one  tried  tricks  to  trip  the 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


219 


other,  and  the  other  tried  the  same.  Ekwamekwa  held  him, 
and  was  about  to  throw  him  on  the  ground.  The  other 
jumped  to  one  side,  and  stood,  his  muscles  quivering,  po!  po! 
po!  tensely.  Ekwamekwa  seized  him  about  the  waist  and 
loins.  The  people  all  were  saying,  “Let  no  one  shout!” 
(lest  Ekwamekwa  be  confused).  They  said,  “Make  no 
noise!  He  is  soon  going  to  be  eaten! ” And  it  was  a woman 
who  said,  “Get  ready  the  kettle!” 

Ekwamekwa  still  held  him  by  the  loins.  So,  they  called 
out,  “ Down  with  him ! Down  with  him ! ” But  Mbuma-tye- 
tye shouted,  “I’m  here!”  He  put  his  foot  behind  Ekwame- 
kwa’s  leg,  and  lifted  him,  and  threw  him  into  the  pit,  kodom! 

Then  there  was  a shout  of  distress  by  the  people,  “A!  a! 
a!  a!’  and  Ekwamekwa  called  out,  “Catch  him!  catch  him!” 
Mbuma-tyetye,  lifting  his  feet,  ran  to  his  father-in-law’s 
end  of  the  town,  and  all  the  men  came  after  him.  His 
father-in-law  protected  him,  and  said  to  them,  “You  can  do 
nothing  with  this  stranger!” 

At  night,  the  Chief  said  to  him,  “Sir,  you  may  go  away 
tomorrow.  ” 

At  daybreak,  food  was  cooked.  The  Chief  Njambu-ya- 
Mekuku,  put  his  daughters  into  large  chests.  In  one  was  a 
lame  one;  another,  covered  with  skin  disease;  and  another, 
with  a crooked  nose;  and  others,  with  other  defects  in  other 
chests,  each  in  her  own  chest.  But,  he  put  the  wife  into  a 
poor  chest  all  dirty  outside  with  droppings  of  fowls,  and 
human  excrement,  and  ashes.  In  it  also,  he  placed  a servant 
and  all  kinds  of  fine  clothing.  Then  said  he  to  Mbuma-tye- 
tye, “ Choose  which  chest  contains  your  wife.  ” 

The  Gourd  at  once  called  him,  and  It  said  to  him,  “Lift 
me  up!”  It  whispered  to  him,  “The  chest  which  is  covered 
with  dirt  and  filth,  it  is  the  one  which  contains  your  wife. 
Even  if  they  say,  * Ha ! ha ! he  has  had  all  his  trouble  for 
nothing;  he  has  left  his  wife,’  do  you  nevertheless  carry  it, 
and  go  on  with  your  journey.” 

He  came  to  the  spot  where  the  chests  were.  The  Chief 
said  again,  “ Choose,  from  the  chests,  the  one  which  contains 
your  wife.”  Mbuma-tyetye  picked  up  the  poor  one.  They 
shouted.  But,  he  at  once  started  on  his  journey,  and  on, 
until  he  came  to  the  river,  stepped  into  a canoe,  paddled  to 
the  other  side,  landed,  and  went  on,  carrying  the  chest. 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Almost  in  an  instant  (by  his  magic  Ngalo)  he  was  at  the 
place  of  the  Great  Tooth.  It  asked,  “How  is  it  there?” 
He  replied,  “Good!”  The  Gourd,  in  leaving,  reported  to 
Its  mother,  the  Tooth,  “A  fine  fellow,  that  person  there!” 
He  went  on  with  his  journey,  his  feet  treading  firmly. 
iVlmost  with  one  stride  (by  aid  of  his  Ngalo),  in  the  twinkling 
of  eyes,  he  was  near  the  spring  at  his  own  town. 

Then  he  said,  “Now  let  me  open  the  chest  here!”  On  his 
opening  it,  a maiden  attended  by  her  servant  came  stepping 
out,  arrayed  in  the  clothing  which  had  been  placed  in  the 
chest  for  her  dress.  One’s  eyes  would  ache  at  sight  of  her 
silks,  and  the  fine  form  of  her  person.  And  you  or  any  other 
one  could  say,  “Yes!  you  are  a bride!  truly  a bride!” 

Two  young  women  rose  up  in  the  town  to  go  to  the  spring 
to  dip  up  water.  They  were  just  about  to  come  to  the 
spring,  when  they  saw*  their  brother  and  his  wife  and  her 
servant.  They  two  went  back  together  rapidly  to  the  town, 
saying,  “Well!  if  there  isn’t  the  woman  whom  Mbuma-tyetye 
has  married!  They  are  two  women  and  himself!” 

The  town  emptied  itself  to  go  and  meet  them  on  the  path. 
His  father  took  powder  and  guns,  with  which  to  announce 
the  arrival;  and  cannon  were  roaring.  When  the  young 
woman  came  and  stood  there  in  the  street,  there  was  only 
shouting  and  shouting,  in  admiration. 

Another  brother,  named  Nja,  when  he  came  to  see  her,  was 
so  impressed  to  get  a wife  like  her,  that,  without  waiting 
for  the  salutations  to  be  made,  he  said  to  his  mother,  “My 
mother!  make  for  me  my  mekima,  too.” 

Mbuma-tyetye  entered  into  the  house,  he  and  his  wife. 
At  once  hot  water  was  set  before  them,  and  they  went  to 
bathe.  When  they  had  finished,  they  entered  the  public 
Reception-Room.  Nja,  impatient  to  get  away  and,  in  impo- 
lite haste,  said,  “Now,  for  my  journey!”  His  brother  ad- 
vised him,  “First  wait;  let  me  tell  you  how  the  way  is.” 
He  replied,  “Not  so!”  And  he  started  off  on  his  journey. 

The  others  sat  down  to  tell,  and  to  hear  the  news.  They 
told  Mbuma-tyetye  the  affairs  of  the  town ; and  he  responded 
as  to  how  he  had  come.  When  he  had  completely  finished, 
he  was  welcomed,  “lye ! Oka ! oka-0 ! But  now,  sit  down  and 
stay.  ” 

Now,  when  Nja  had  gone,  he  met  the  two  Millepedes 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


221 


fighting.  He  exclaimed,  “By  my  father  Njambu!  what  is 
this?”  He  stood  there  with  laughter,  “Kye!  kye!  kye!” 
He  clapped  his  hands,  “ Kwa ! kwa ! You ! there ! let  me  pass !” 
They  asked,  “Give  us  an  ukima. ” He  stood  laughing,  kwa! 
kwa!  saying,  “I  will  see  this  today!  Food  that  is  eaten  by 
a human  being!  Is  it  so  that  they  have  teeth?  As  I see  it, 
they,  having  no  mouths,  how  can  they  eat?  ” But  he  opened 
his  food-bag,  took  an  ukima,  and  gave  them  a small  piece. 
They  rebuked  him  for  his  meanness,  and  laid  a curse  on 
him,  “Aye!  You  will  not  reach  the  end.”  He  responded, 
“I  won’t  reach  my  end,  eh?  Humph!  I’m  going  on  my 
journey!”  He  left  them;  and  they  grabbed  at  the  very 
little  piece  of  ukima  he  had  given  them. 

He  cried  out,  “Journey!”  and  went  on  both  by  day  and 
by  night,  traveling  until  he  met  the  two  Snakes  fighting. 
He  derided  them,  and  took  a club,  and  was  about  to  strike 
them,  when  they  cursed  him,  “You  will  not  reach  the  end!” 
However,  he  gave  them,  at  their  request,  an  ukima,  and 
passed  on.  As  he  turned  to  go,  and  was  leaving  them,  they 
made  signs  behind  him,  repeating  their  curse,  “He  will  not 
reach  safely!”  And  they  added,  “He  has  no  good  sense; 
let  us  leave  him.  ” 

He  still  cried  out,  “Journey!”  and  went  on  to  that  place 
of  Ihonga-na-Ihonga  whose  size  filled  all  the  width  of  the 
way.  He  made  a shout,  raising  it  very  loud,  and  repeated 
his  exclamation,  “By  my  father,  Njambu!  Thou  who  hast 
begotten  me,  thou  hast  not  seen  such  as  this!’  Tooth 
asked,  “Where  are  you  going?”  He,  astonished,  exclaimed, 
“Ah!  It  can  talk!  Alas!  for  me!”  And  he  added  a shout 
again,  with  laughter,  “Kwati!  kwati!  kwati!”  It  spoke  and 
said,  “Please,  split  for  me  fire-wood.”  He  replied,  “What 
will  fire-wood  do  for  you?”  He,  however,  split  the  wood 
hastily,  ko!  ko!  ke!  and  left  it  in  a pile.  It  said,  “Leave 
me  an  ukima.”  He  responded,  “Yes;  let  me  see  what  It 
will  do  with  it  now!’  He  opened  his  food-bag,  and  laid  an 
ukima  down  disrespectfully,  and  said,  “Eat!  let  me  see!” 

Tooth  said  to  him,  “Sleep  here!”  Said  he,  “If  I sjeep 
here,  what  is  there  for  me  to  sit  on?”  It  replied  only,  “Sleep 
here!”  He  said,  “Yes!”  Then  he  invoked  his  Ngalo,  “A 
seat!”  It  appeared,  and  he  sat  down.  In  the  evening,  he 
invoked,  “Ngalo,  a house!”  It  appeared.  “A  bed!”  It 


222 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


appeared.  “A  table!”  It  appeared.  “Food!”  It  was  set 
out.  He  ate,  but  did  not  offer  any  to  Tooth,  and  fell  into  a 
deep  sleep. 

At  daybreak,  he  was  given  water  to  wash  his  face,  and 
food;  and  he  ate  it.  Then  the  Tooth  said  to  him,  “Now, 
this  is  a Hova;  go;  the  Hova  will  tell  you  what  you  should 
do,”  Said  he  sarcastically  “Good!  a good  thing!”  And  he 
started  on  his  journey.  But,  when  he  was  gone,  he  despised 
the  Gourd,  and  said  to  himself,  “What  can  this  water-jar  do 
for  me?  I shall  leave  it  here.”  And  he  laid  it  down  at  the 
foot  of  a Buda  tree.  There  were  many  kuda  (nuts  of  the 
Buda)  lying  on  the  ground.  He  prepared  a seat,  and  sat 
down.  He  gathered  the  kuda  nuts  in  one  place.  He  took 
up  a nut,  broke  it,  threw  its  kernel  into  his  mouth,  and 
chewed  it.  He  picked  up  another  one,  and  was  going  to 
break  it.  Gourd  warningly  said,  “I!  I!”  He  replied,  “Is 
it  that  you  want  me  to  give  it  to  you?”  Gourd  answered 
only,  “I-I!”  And  he  said,  “But,  then,  your  ‘I!  I!’  what  is 
it  for?  ” He  broke  many  of  the  nuts,  taking  them  up  quickly; 
and  finished  eating  all.  And  still  his  tomach  felt  empty,  as 
if  he  had  eaten  nothing. 

He  then  said,  “The  Journey!”  He  started,  still  carrying 
with  him  the  Gourd,  going  on,  on,  until  he  came  to  the  Bwibe 
tree  (wild  mango).  That  Bwibe  was  sweet.  He  collected 
the  mibe  fruits,  and  began  to  split  them.  He  split  many  in 
a pile,  and  then  said,  “Now!  let  me  suck! ” He  sucked  them 
all,  but  he  felt  no  sense  of  repletion,  although  the  Gourd  had 
warned  him.  He  took  the  skins  of  the  mibe  fruit,  and  angrily 
thrust  them  inside  the  Gourd’s  mouth,  saying,  “Eat!  You 
who  have  no  teeth,  what  makes  you  say  I must  not  eat? 
But,  take  you!” 

He  goes  on  with  his  journey.  And  he  found  water.  He 
took  his  drinking- vessel,  plunged  it  into  the  water,  dipped, 
put  it  to  his  mouth,  drank,  and  drained  the  vessel.  He 
wanted  more,  plunged  the  vessel,  and  drank,  draining  the 
vessel.  He  took  more  again,  disregarding  the  warnings  of 
Gourd.  The  water  said  to  him,  “Here  am  I,  I remain 
myself.”  (i.  e.  I will  not  satisfy  you.)  He  gave  up  drink- 
ing, and  started  his  journey  again,  journeying,  journeying, 
crossed  some  small  creeks,  and  passed  clear  on,  until  he 
came  to  the  River.  As  he  listened,  he  heard  songs  passing 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


223 


by.  He  said  to  himself.  “Now!  those  who  sing,  where  are 
they?” 

The  Gourd  spoke  to  him,  saying,  “Call  for  the  canoe!” 
He  replied,  “How  shall  I call  for  a canoe,  while  I see  no 
people  ? ” Gourd  repeated  to  him,  “ Call ! ” Then  he  shouted 
out,  “You,  bring  me  the  canoe!”  Voices  asked,  “Who  art 
thou?”  He  answered,  “I!  Nj&!”  Some  of  the  voices  said, 
“Come!  let  us  ferry  him  across.”  Others  said,  “No!” 
But  the  rest  answered,  “Come  on!”  Then  they  entered 
their  canoe,  laid  hold  of  their  paddles,  and  came  singing, 
“Kapi,  madi,  madi,  sa! 

Kapi,  mada,  mada,  sa!” 

And  they  came  to  the  landing.  He  saw  nothing  but  what 
seemed  a log,  and  exclaimed,  “How  shall  I embark  in  a log, 
while  there  is  neither  paddle,  nor  a person  for  a crew?” 
But  Gourd  directed  him,  “Embark!”  So,  he  went  in  the 
log.  They  paddled,  and  brought  him  to  the  other  side.  He 
jumped  ashore,  and  stood  for  a moment.  Then  he  moved 
on  with  the  journey,  walking  on  to  a certain  town  (that 
town  of  the  Spirits).  He  saw  nobody,  but  entered  into  the 
public  Reception-House,  and  sat  down. 

Gourd  spoke  to  him,  saying,  “Come,  and  escort  me  to  the 
back-yard.”  He  curtly  answered,  “Yes.”  He  carried  It, 
and  stood  It  at  the  foot  of  a plantain  stalk.  Then  he  went 
back  to  the  Reception-House  and  sat  down. 

A Bundle  of  Medicines  came  to  salute  him,  and  was  about 
to  sit  on  his  lap.  He  jumped  up  saying,  “What  is  this?” 
He  sat  down  again.  Another  Bundle  fell  on  his  lap.  He 
exclaimed,  “Hump!  what  is  that?”  The  Bundle  being  dis- 
pleased, replied,  “You  will  not  come  to  the  end.”  (i.  e. 
you  will  not  have  a successful  journey.) 

The  Gourd  called  him;  and  he  went  to  the  back-yard. 
The  Gourd  said  to  him,  “Stand  up!”  And  he  stood  up. 
Then  the  Gourd  took  a leaf,  folded  it  as  a funnel,  and  dropped 
a Medicine  into  his  eyes;  and  he  began  to  see  everything 
clearly.  He  said,  “This  is  the  only  thing  which  I can  see 
that  this  Hova  has  done  for  me.  ” He  passed  by,  and  entered 
the  Reception-House  again,  and  sat  down.  A person  came 
saluting  him,  “Mbolo!”  He  responded,  “Ai!”  Another 
came,  “Mbolo!”  He  replied,  “Ai!” 

They  cooked  food,  and  got  it  ready  to  bring  to  him. 


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During  this  while,  he  told  his  errand,  and  was  given  a 
wife. 

Gourd  called  him.  He  went  out  to  It:  and  It  directed 
him,  “When  you  are  going  to  eat,  you  must  take  only  one 
piece  of  plantain,  and  a piece  of  the  flesh  of  the  fowl.  Then 
you  dip  it  into  the  udika-gravy,  and  put  it  into  your  mouth; 
and  you  will  chew  it;  and  when  you  have  swallowed  it,  then 
you  leave  the  remainder  of  the  food.”  He  disregardfully 
said,  “Yes!  Yes!”  And  he  laughed,  “kye!  kye!  kye!”  I do 
not  know  what  this  Hova  means!  And  that  ‘remainder,’ 
shall  I give  it  to  It?”  And  he  entered  the  house  again,  and 
sat  down. 

The  food  was  set  out.  Little  children  came;  they  said  to 
each  other,  “Let  us  see  how  he  will  eat.”  He  took  up  a 
piece  of  plantain,  and  put  it  in  his  mouth;  he  took  a fowl’s 
leg,  put  it  in  his  mouth;  and  gnawed  the  flesh  off  of  the  bone. 
He  took  up  another  piece  of  plantain,  dipped  a spoon  into  the 
udika-gravy,  and  put  it  into  his  mouth;  he  took  a piece  of 
meat  and  a plantain,  and  swallowed  them.  The  little  chil- 
dren began  to  jeer  at  him,  “He  eats  like  a person  who  has 
never  eaten  before.  ” He  rose;  but  felt  as  if  his  stomach  was 
empty. 

He  again  seated  himself,  and  he  and  his  wife  played  games 
together.  Soon  he  said,  “My  body  feels  exhausted  with 
hunger”;  food  was  again  made  and  was  set  out;  he  ate. 
The  result  was  the  same.  The  evening  meal  was  also  pre- 
pared; he  ate,  and  finished;  and  still  was  hungry. 

In  the  evening,  the  Chief  of  the  town  called  together  the 
tribe  and  said  to  them,  “ Men ! I see  that  this  fellow  has  no 
sense;  let  him  return  to  his  place.  ” 

On  another  day,  Nja  said  to  himself,  “Let  me  try,  as  the 
Hova  has  advised  me,  about  the  food.”  They  cooked;  they 
set  it  on  the  table.  He  took  a piece  of  plantain,  and  some 
flesh  of  the  fowl;  he  placed  them  on  a spoon,  and  dipped 
them  into  the  udika,  and  put  them  into  his  mouth.  He 
rose  up,  saying,  “I  have  finished!”  And  his  stomach  felt 
replete.  Then  he  thought  to  himself,  “So!  is  it  possible 
that  this  Hova  knows  the  affairs  of  the  Spirits?” 

The  next  time  when  food  was  spread  on  the  table,  he  did 
the  same  way;  and  his  stomach  was  satisfied. 

Another  day  broke,  and  his  father-in-law  said  to  him,  “On 


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225 


the  morrow  wfill  be  your  journey/’  When  the  next  day 
dawned,  the  Chief  brought  out  the  chests  containing  his 
daughters,  and  said,  “Now,  then!  choose  the  one  that  you 
will  take  with  you.  ” 

The  Gourd  whispered  to  him,  “Do  not  take  the  fine-look- 
ing one;  you  must  take  the  one  you  see  covered  with  filth.” 
He  responded,  “Not  I!”  The  one  he  chose  was  the  fine  one. 
He  took  it  up,  and  carried  it  away.  The  town’s-people 
began  to  cry  out  (in  pretence),  “Oh!  he  has  taken  from  us 
that  fine  maiden  of  ours!”  He  was  full  of  gladness  that  at 
last  he  was  married.  But,  really,  he  was  carrying  a woman, 
crooked-nosed,  and  all  of  whose  body  was  nothing  but  skin- 
disease,  and  pus  oozing  all  over  her. 

He  went  on  his  journey,  on,  on,  on,  on,  until  the  town  of 
the  Tooth.  Said  he,  “Here’s  your  Hova!”  The  Tooth 
requested,  “Tell  me  the  news  from  there.”  The  Gourd 
whispered  to  Tooth,  “Let  this  worthless  fellow  be!  Let  him 
go!  He  did  not  marry  a real  woman.  So,  he  is  not  a per- 
son.” 

The  man  at  once  went  on  with  his  journey,  continuously, 
until  he  came  to  the  spring  by  his  own  town.  Said  he, 
“Let  me  bathe!”  He  put  down  the  chest,  and  threw  his 
body  with  a plunge,  into  the  water.  He  bathed  himself 
thoroughly,  and  emerged  on  the  bank.  Then  he  said  to 
himself,  “Now,  then,  let  me  open  the  chest!”  The  key 
clicked,  and  the  chest  opened.  A sick  woman  stepped  out! 
He  demanded,  “Who  brought  you  here?”  She  replied, 
“You.”  Said  he  in  astonishment,  “I?”  “Yes,”  answered 
she.  He,  in  anger,  said,  “Go  back!  Do  not  come  at  all  to 
the  town!”  He  at  once  started  to  go  to  the  town;  and  the 
woman  slowly  followed. 

There  were  two  children  who  were  going  to  the  spring. 
As  they  went,  they  met  with  her;  and  they  cried  out  in  fear, 
“Aye!  aye!  aye!  a Ghost!  aye!”  And  they  went  back  to- 
gether in  haste  to  the  town.  The  town’s-people  asked  them, 
“What’s  the  matter?”  They  said,  “Come!  there’s  a Ghost 
at  the  spring!”  The  woman  continued  slowly  coming. 
Other  children  said,  “Let  us  go!  Does  a Ghost  come  in  the 
daytime?  That  is  not  so!” 

As  they  came  on  the  path,  they  met  her.  They  asked  her, 
“Who  has  married  you?”  She  replied,  “Isn’t  it  Nja?” 


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WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


The  children  excitedly  cried  out  shrilly,  “A!  Id!  Id!”  They 
went  back  quickly  to  the  town,  saying,  “Come  ye!  see  the 
wife  of  Njd!”  The  town  emptied  itself  to  go  and  see  her. 
And  they  inquired  of  her,  “Who  is  it  who  has  married  you?” 
She  answered,  “Is  it  not  Nja?”  And  the  shrill  cry  of  sur- 
prise rose  again,  “A!  la!  la!  la!” 

When  they  reached  the  town,  Njd  rose  in  anger  from  his 
house,  picked  up  his  spear,  stood  facing  them,  and  threatened 
with  his  spear,  “This  is  it!” 

He  passed  by  them  into  the  back-yard,  and  changed  his 
body  to  that  of  a new  kind  of  beast,  with  spots  all  over  his 
skin.  At  once  he  stooped  low  on  four  legs;  and  thrust  out 
his  claws ; and  begun  a fight  with  the  people  of  the  town,  as  a 
Leopard.  Then  he  went,  leaping  off  into  the  Forest. 

From  there,  he  kept  the  name  “Njd,”  and  has  continued 
his  fight  with  Mankind.  The  hatred  between  leopards  and 
mankind  dates  from  that  time.  Some  of  the  people  of  that 
country  had  said  to  Mbuma-Tyetye  that  he  would  not  be  able 
to  marry  at  the  town  of  the  Spirits,  and  had  tried  to  hinder 
him.  But  he  did  go,  and  succeeded  in  marrying  a daughter 
of  Njambu-ya-Mekuku;  while  Njd,  attempting  to  do  the 
same,  and  not  waiting  for  advice  from  his  brother,  and  treat- 
ing with  disrespect  the  Spirits  on  the  way,  failed. 


TALE  34 

A Snake’s  Skin  Looks  Like  a Snake 


Persons 


Bokeli,  Son  of  Njambe-Ya- 
Manga 

Jamba,  Daughter  of  Njambe- 
Ya-MadilS 

NOTE 


Ko  (Wild  Rat) 

Mbindi  (Wild  Goat) 
Etungi,  A Town  Idler 
Kuba  (Chicken) 


Bokeli  was  like  a snake.  When  a snake  changes  and 
throws  off  his  old  skin,  that  slough,  when  it  is  left  lying  at 
any  place,  is  almost  as  fearful  to  see,  as  the  snake  itself. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


m 

The  list  of  the  dowry  goods  for  J£mM  is  a good  illustration 
of  native  exaggeration. 


Njambe-of-the-Interior  begot  a daughter  called  Jamba. 
And  Njambe-of-the-Sea-Coast  begot  a son  called  Bokeli. 

Many  men  arrived  at  the  town  of  Njambe-of-the-Interior, 
asking  Jamba  for  marriage.  There  they  were  killed  (Njam- 
be’s  people  were  cannibals),  not  being  able  to  fulfill  the  tests 
to  which  they  were  subjected.  So,  people  said,  “Jamba  will 
not  be  married !” 

Finally  Bokeli,  the  son  of  Njambe-of-the-Sea-Coast,  said, 
“I  am  going  to  take  Jamba  for  marriage.”  He  prepared 
for  his  journey;  he  went;  and  he  arrived  at  the  town.  He 
at  once  entered  into  the  public  Reception-House,  and  sat 
down.  There  the  people  of  the  town  exclaimed,  “A  fine- 
looking  man!”  And  they  saluted  him,  “Mbolo!”  The 
young  women  at  once  went  to  tell  Jamba,  saying,  “What  a 
fine-looking  man  has  come  to  marry  you!” 

Previous  to  this,  the  mother  of  Jamba,  who  was  lame  with 
sores,  was  lying  in  the  house.  If  a prospective  son-in-law 
laughed  in  her  presence,  she  would  say  to  her  husband, 
“He  is  mocking  at  me!”  Then  that  visitor  would  die. 
All  the  men  who  had  come  there  to  marry,  were  killed  in 
that  way. 

Before  this  (as  Bokeli  understood  the  speech  of  all  Beasts 
and  of  Birds)  when  he  entered  into  the  Reception-House,  a 
Cock  in  the  town  spoke  to  him,  and  said,  “If  your  hope  for 
food  rests  on  me,  you  will  not  eat!  I will  not  be  killed  for 
you;  neither  shall  you  eat  at  all!”  Also  a loin  of  Wild-Goat 
meat,  hanging  in  the  kitchen,  said,  “For  me,  you  will  not 
eat!” 

But  Njambe  (who  had  overheard  the  Cock,  and  who  was 
thinking  of  food  for  his  guest)  ordered,  “Today,  catch  ye 
Kuba!”  But  Cock  ran  off  to  the  forest.  Then  the  people 
said,  “Take  the  leg  of  Mbindi!”  The  leg  of  Wild-Goat  pro- 
tested, “I?”  And  it  rotted.  They  sought  some  other 
thing  to  cook  for  Bokeli;  but,  there  was  nothing.  So,  Njam- 
be sent  his  sons  hunting  to  kill  wild  beasts. 

Then,  the  mother  of  Jamba  called  for  Bokeli,  saying,  “He 
must  come;  let  me  see  him.  ” So,  he  entered  into  her  house. 


228 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


and  he  sat  down.  They  began  to  converse.  It  was  but  a 
little  while  then  that  the  mother  said  to  her  daughter, 
“ Search  for  me  on  the  drying  frame  (over  the  fire-place); 
you  will  find  Ko  there;  take  it  for  the  guest,  and  cook  it.” 
The  Wild-Rat  spoke,  saying,  “If  it  is  I,  he  will  not  possibly 
eat!” 

At  this,  Bokeli  broke  into  a laugh.  The  mother  was  dis- 
pleased, and  said,  “You  are  laughing  at  me!”  Bokeli 
replied,  “No!”  But,  the  woman  flung  into  a rage,  and 
threw  herself  down  on  the  ground,  ndi!  She  exclaimed, 
“Ah!  Njambe!  He  laughed  at  me!  Catch  him!  And  let 
him  go  to  die!” 

They  laid  hold  of  him,  and  brought  him  out  of  the  house. 
They  were  about  to  go  a little  further  to  the  end  of  the  town, 
when  he  suddenly  pretended  he  was  a corpse,  and  leaving 
his  body,  his  spirit  went  back  home,  and  assumed  another 
body.  They  became  quiet,  all  of  them  being  startled.  When 
they  moved  him,  he  was  as  cold  as  cold  victuals.  They 
said,  “What  shall  we  do  here?”  Some  of  them  advised, 
“Let  us  take  Jamba  and  this  corpse,  and  let  us  go  together 
to  his  father,  and  explain,  ‘Bokeli  is  dead,  but  this  woman 
is  his  wife.’  ” Others  said,  “What!  lest  his  father  will  kill 
us!”  Then  they  decided,  “Not  so!  but,  let  us  send  as  mes- 
senger some  Etungi  (useless  person;  no  loss  if  he  should  be 
killed)  to  the  father’s  town. 

The  Etungi  went  on  that  errand.  When  he  arrived  at 
Bokeli’s  town,  he  met  Bokeli  sitting  at  the  village  smithy, 
and,  not  recognizing  him,  was  intending  to  pass  him  by. 
Thereupon,  Bokeli  called  to  him,  “Brother-in-law!  what 
are  you  doing?  You  have  found  me  sitting  here,  but  you 
seem  about  to  entirely  pass  me  by.  Though  all  your  family 
do  not  like  me,  come  in  to  the  Reception-House.”  The 
Etungi  thought  to  himself,  “Ah!  I am  dead!  Is  not  this  a 
brother  of  Bokeli?”  Bokeli  called  to  his  mother,  and  told 
her,  “Bring  out  that  food  of  mine  quickly  that  is  there! 
My  brother-in-law  has  come;  he  feels  hungry!” 

They  set  the  food  as  soon  as  possible.  And  the  Etungi 
ate. 

Bokeli  asked  him,  “Where  are  you  going  to?”  The 
Etungi  replied,  “I’m  on  my  way  going  to  tell  Njambe  that 
his  son  Bokeli  is  dead.”  Bokeli  said  to  him,  “This  is  I.” 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


229 


Then  he  gave  the  Etungi  a shirt  and  a cloth  and  a hat,  as 
proofs  of  his  reality. 

The  Etungi  returned  to  his  town.  And  he  reported  to 
the  people  in  the  town,  “Bokeli  is  not  dead;  I met  him  at 
the  bellows,  working.  ” They  thought  he  was  lying,  and 
they  said,  “Let  him  be  beaten!’’  But  the  Etungi  replied, 
“True!  see  ye  this  shirt,  and  the  cloth,  and  this  hat!”  He 
added,  “He  that  doubts  must  first  go  and  see.” 

Then  went  Kombe.  When  he  arrived,  he  found  Bokeli 
at  the  bellows.  When  Bokeli  saw  him  coming,  he  arose  at 
once,  and  went  to  his  mother  in  the  house;  he  seized  a mach- 
ete, and  cut  down  a plantain  bunch,  yo ! And  he  said  to  his 
mother,  “Make  haste  to  cook  it!” 

Kombe  had  by  that  time  entered  the  Reception-House. 
Bokeli  welcomed  him,  sa-a!  and  said,  “Sit  down!”  Kombe 
sat  down.  Food  had  been  cooked;  and  he  ate.  Kombe 
then  says,  “I’m  going  back!”  Bokeli  at  once  put  down  at 
his  feet  the  dowry  for  Jamba,  cloths,  shirts,  hats,  etc,  etc. 
Kombe  carried  away  the  things.  And  having  arrived  at  his 
town,  he  says,  “It  is  true!” 

Their  father  Njambe  directed,  “Come  ye!  over  there  with 
a present  as  a propitiation!”  Then  he  gathered  goats, 
fowls,  ducks,  plantains,  dried  meats,  fishes,  all  sorts  and 
kinds.  He  ordered,  “Make  ye  a bier,  and  carry  the  corpse. 
I am  going,  even  if  I die!”  (He  still  had  a doubt  about  the 
real  Bokeli.)  They  did  so.  They  carried  the  presents,  and 
they  went,  going  on  the  journey. 

When  those  in  front  had  arrived  at  the  half-way  of  the 
road,  the  father  said  to  his  children,  “You  must  now  remain 
here.  I shall  first  go  to  the  town.  If  you  hear  a sound  of 
guns,  you  will  know  that  I am  killed;  then  ye  must  go  back.  ” 
The  father  Njambe  took  Jamba  to  accompany  him,  and  his 
wives  with  him. 

When  Bokeli  saw  them  coming,  at  once  the  cannon  were 
loaded,  and  were  fired  in  a salute  of  welcome,  and  all  the  guns 
and  musical  instruments  sounded,  and  people  saying,  “The 
bride  is  come!” 

The  children  of  Njambe  who  were  left  on  the  way,  when 
they  heard  the  sounds  of  the  cannons  and  guns,  said  to  them- 
selves that  their  father  was  killed,  and  they  scattered  and 
hid  themselves.  But  he  hastily  started  and  went  back  to 


230 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


the  place  where  he  had  left  them;  and  he  found  nobody  there. 
He  called  them;  and  they  came  out  of  their  hiding.  He 
commanded,  “ Throw  away  this  thing  (the  supposed  corpse); 
take  up  the  goods;  come  to  the  town  of  Bokeli.  ” 

Then  they  went  to  the  town.  They  found  JamM  and  her 
husband  Bokeli  sitting  and  playing.  And  they  were  treated 
with  much  kindness.  Oxen  and  pigs  were  killed;  they  ate; 
they  drank;  and  had  great  fun  and  very  much  enjoyment. 

Njambe-of-the-Interior  then  said  that  he  was  ready  to 
journey  back  to  his  town.  But  his  friend  Njambe-of-the- 
Sea-Coast  said,  “Not  today,  but  tomorrow  in  the  morning; 
then  I will  give  you  the  dowry.  ” 

On  the  next  day,  they  delivered  the  dowry;  five  millions 
of  spear-heads  (an  iron  currency);  knives  also,  a million;  one 
thousand  hats;  one  thousand  shirts;  one  hundred  cloths; 
bags  and  trunks  one  hundred;  bales  of  all  kinds  of  white 
man’s  things;  and  native  things  in  abundance;  cattle  also 
in  abundance.  Then  they  went  away  with  them  to  their 
town. 

And  Bokeli  and  Jamba  remained  in  the  seaside  town  with 
their  marriage. 


PART  THIRD 


Fang  Tribe 

FOREWORD 

In  this  Part,  are  tales  told  me  by  an  old  Batanga  man,  of 
the  Bandka  Tribe.  He  could  not  give  me  the  time  to  come 
to  my  room,  and  tell  me,  sentence  by  sentence,  as  the  other 
two  narrators  had  done.  But,  having  some  education,  he 
wrote  the  stories  in  his  native  language,  and,  at  my  leisure, 
I translated  them.  The  translation  is  literal,  except  when 
the  short  phrases,  clear  to  native  thought,  would  have  been 
an  imperfect  sentence  to  an  English  eye;  or,  where  an  allusion 
to  well-known  native  customs,  perfectly  obvious  to  a native, 
would  have  been  obscure  to  most  readers.  In  such  cases,  I 
have  sacrificed  to  clearness  the  concise  native  idiom.  To  a 
student  of  higher  criticism,  the  sentences  which  are  mine 
will  reveal  themselves.  In  my  literal  translations  of  the 
native,  I have  used  very  simple  short  words,  mostly  of 
Anglo-Saxon  origin.  In  my  own  paraphrases,  words  of 
Latin  origin  have  appeared. 

Some  tales  of  this  Part  are  of  Fang  origin  from  the  Bulu 
Tribe  of  the  interior.  My  Batanga  friend  told  me  he  heard 
them  from  Bulu  people  visiting  at  the  Coast,  and  he  wrote 
them  as  they  were  then  current  on  the  coast.  After  I had 
translated  them  from  his  Bandka  vernacular,  I found,  and 
pointed  out  to  him,  that  some  of  them  had  already  been 
printed  in  Fang,  as  specimens  of  Bulu  idioms,  in  a published 
Grammar  of  the  Bulu-Fang  Language  (“Handbook  of  Bulu, 
by  G.  S.  Bates”).  This  explanation  is  proper  to  be  made, 
that  while,  unknown  to  me,  Mr.  Bates  was  collecting  direct 
from  his  Bulu  informants  in  the  interior,  my  Batanga  friend 
had  collected  for  me,  from  his  Bulu  visitors;  and  the  tales 
were  in  my  possession,  translated  into  English  by  myself, 
before  I saw  Mr.  Bates  * book,  or  even  knew  of  its  existence. 


231 


TALE  1 


Candor 

Persons 

Ngiya  (Gorilla)  Ingenda  (A  Small  Monkey) 


Gorilla,  among  all  Beasts,  was  derided  and  jeered  at  by 
them.  They  called  him  “Broken-face.” 

So,  he  spoke  to  Ingenda  of  the  Monkey  Tribe,  and  ordered 
it,  “Just  examine  for  me  this  face  of  mine;  whether  it  is 
really  so,  you  tell  me.”  The  monkey  was  afraid  to  refuse, 
and  afraid  also  to  tell  the  truth.  So  it  ascended  a tree;  and, 
as  it  went,  it  plucked  the  fruits.  It  said  to  Gorilla,  “I  must 
first  eat  before  answering  your  question;  I feel  hungry.” 
(As  an  excuse  to  give  itself  time  to  escape.) 

So  Ingenda  went;  and,  by  the  time  it  had  eaten  two  of  the 
fruits,  it  was  near  the  tree-top.  Then  it  called  to  Gorilla 
“Look  here!  with  your  face  turned  upward.”  So  the 
Gorilla  looked,  with  its  face  upward.  And  Ingenda,  being 
in  a safe  place,  acknowledged,  “It  is  really  so,  really  so.” 
Gorilla  was  angry;  but  was  helpless  to  revenge  itself  on 
Ingenda  for  its  candid  statement;  for,  he  had  no  way  by 
which  to  catch  him.  And  Ingenda  went  off,  leaping  as  it 
went  from  tree-top  to  tree-top. 


233 


234  WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 

TALE  2 

Which  is  the  Better  Hunter,  an  Eagle  or  a Leopard? 

Pct  sons 

Mbela  (Eagle)  NjS  (Leopard) 


Eagle  and  Leopard  had  a discussion  about  obtaining  prey. 

Eagle  said,  “ I am  the  one  who  can  surpass  you  in  preying.  ” 
Leopard  said,  “Not  so!  Is  it  not  I?” 

Then  Eagle  said,  “Wait;  see  whether  you  are  the  one  to 
surpass  me  in  preying.  ” Thereupon  he  descended  from 
above,  seized  a child  of  Leopard,  and  flew  up  with  it  to  his 
nest. 

Leopard  exclaimed,  “Alas!  what  shall  I do?”  And  he 
went,  and  went,  walking  about,  coming  to  one  place,  and 
going  to  another,  wishing  to  fly  in  order  to  go  to  the  rescue 
of  his  child.  He  could  not  fly,  for  want  of  wings;  therefore 
it  was  the  other  one  who  flew  up  and  away. 

So  it  was  that  the  eagle  proved  that  he  surpassed  the 
leopard  in  seeking  prey. 


TALE  3 

A Lesson  in  Evolution 
Persons 

Unyunge  (The  Shrew-Mouse)  Po  (A  Lemur) 

NOTE 

The  development  of  the  Shrew’s  long  nose,  and  of  the  Le- 
mur’s big  eyes. 


Shrew  and  Lemur  were  neighbors  in  the  town  of  Beasts. 
At  that  time,  the  Animals  did  not  possess  fire.  Lemur  said 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


235 


to  Shrew,  “Go!  and  take  for  us  fire  from  the  town  of  Man- 
kind.” Shrew  consented,  but  said,  “If  I go,  do  not  look, 
while  I am  gone,  toward  any  other  place  except  the  path 
on  which  I go.  Do  not  even  wink.  Watch  for  me.  ” 

So  Shrew  went,  and  came  to  a Town  of  Men;  and  found 
that  the  people  had  all  emigrated  from  that  town.  Yet,  he 
went  on,  and  on,  seeking  for  fire;  and  for  a long  time  found 
none.  But,  as  he  continued  moving  forward  from  house  to 
house,  he  at  last  found  a very  little  fire  on  a hearth.  He 
began  blowing  it;  and  kept  on  blowing,  and  blowing;  for, 
the  fire  did  not  soon  ignite  into  a flame.  He  continued  so 
long  at  this  that  his  mouth  extended  forward  permanently, 
with  the  blowing. 

Then  he  went  back,  and  found  Lemur  faithfully  watching 
with  his  eyes  standing  very  wide  open.  Shrew  asked  him, 
“What  has  made  your  eyes  so  big?”  In  return,  Lemur 
asked  him,  “ What  has  so  lengthened  your  mouth  to  a snout?” 


TALE  4 

Parrot  Standing  on  One  Leg 
Persons 

Njaku  (Elephant)  Koho  (Parrot) 

Iwedo  (Death) 

NOTE 

In  former  times,  in  the  days  of  Witchcraft,  it  was  the 
custom  not  to  bury  a corpse  until  the  question  was  settled 
who  or  what  had  caused  the  death.  This  investigation 
sometimes  occupied  several  days;  during  which  time  decom- 
position was  hindered  by  the  application  of  salt,  and  even 
by  drying  the  remains  in  the  smoke  of  a fire. 


Elephant  built  his  own  town;  and  Parrot  built  also  his. 
Then  the  children  of  Parrot  went  a-hunting  every  day; 
and  when  they  came  back,  the  town  had  wild  meat  in  abund- 
ance, hida!  hida! 


236 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


One  day  Elephant  announced,  “I  must  go  on  an  excursion 
to  the  town  of  Chum  Koho.  ” He  arrived  there  and  found 
him,  with  that  fashion  of  his,  of  standing  with  one  leg  bent 
up  under  his  feathers  hidden.  His  friend  Elephant  asked 
him,  “ Chum ! what  have  you  done  to  your  leg?  ” He  answer- 
ed him  (falsely),  “My  children  have  gone  with  it  a-hunting.  ” 
Elephant  being  astonished  said,  “On  your  oath?”  He 
replied,  “Truly!” 

Then  Elephant  said,  “I  came  to  see  you,  only  to  see.  I’m 
going  back.”  The  other  said,  “Yes;  very  good.” 

Elephant  returned  to  his  town,  and  said  to  his  children, 
“Arrange  the  nets  today;  tomorrow  for  a hunt!” 

The  next  day,  the  children  made  ready.  And  he,  ashamed 
that  a small  Bird  should  do  a greater  act  than  himself  said, 
“Take  ye  a saw,  and  cut  off  my  leg.”  His  children  did  not 
hesitate  at  his  command,  as  they  were  accustomed  to  implicit 
obedience.  So,  they  cut  it  off;  and  they  carried  with  them, 
as  he  directed,  the  leg,  on  their  hunt. 

When  they  were  gone,  to  their  father  Elephant  came 
Death,  saying,  “I  have  arrived!”  People  of  the  town  cried 
for  help,  “Come  ye!  Nj&ku  is  not  well!”  But,  the  children 
were  beyond  hearing,  being  still  away  at  the  hunt.  During 
their  absence,  Elephant  died.  When  they  arrived,  they 
found  their  father  a corpse. 

People  wondered,  saying,  “What  is  this?  Since  we  were 
born,  we  have  not  heard  this,  that  hunting  is  carried  on  with 
the  legs  of  one  who  remains  behind  in  the  town.”  When 
others,  coming  to  the  funeral,  from  other  towns,  asked  the 
children,  “Who  was  the  person  who  counseled  you  such 
advice  as  that?”  they  said,  “Himself  it  was  who  told  us;  he 
said  to  us  ‘Cut:’  So  we  cut.” 

Then,  on  farther  investigation,  the  people  said,  “The 
blame  belongs  to  Koho,”  so,  they  called  Parrot  to  account. 
But,  Parrot  said,  “It  is  not  mine.  I did  not  tell  him  to  cut 
off  his  leg.”  So,  the  charge  was  dismissed.  And  the  burial 
proceeded. 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


237 


TALE  5 

A Question  of  Right  of  Inheritance 
Persons 

Utati-Mboka  (A  Sparrow)  Koho  (Parrot) 

A Man 

NOTE 

Sparrow  based  his  claim  on  the  grounds  of  companionship, 
and  community  of  interests. 

Parrot’s  claim  is  based  on  a very  common  line  of  argu- 
ment in  native  disputes  not  only  about  property,  but  in  all 
questions  of  liability. 


Parrot  and  Sparrow  argued  about  their  right  to  inherit 
the  property  that  a Man  had  left. 

The  Sparrow  said,  “The  Man  and  I lived  all  our  days  in 
the  same  town.  If  he  moved,  I also  moved.  Our  interests 
were  similar.  At  whatever  place  he  went  to  live,  there  also 
I stood  in  the  street.  ” 

The  Parrot  spoke,  and  based  his  claim  on  the  ground  that 
he  was  the  original  cause  of  the  Man’s  wealth.  He  said, 
“I  was  born  in  the  tree-tops;  then  the  Man  came  and  took 
me,  to  live  with  him. 

When  my  tail  began  to  grow,  he  and  his  people  took  my 
feathers; 

With  which  they  made  a handsome  head-dress; 

Which  they  sold  for  very  many  goods; 

With  which  they  bought  a wife; 

And  that  woman  bore  daughters; 

Who,  for  much  money,  were  sold  into  marriages; 

And  their  children  also  bore  other  children; 

Wherefore,  for  that  reason,  it  is  that  I say  that  I caused 
for  them  all  these  women,  and  was  the  foundation  of  all  this 
wealth.  ” 

This  was  what  Parrot  declared. 


238 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


So,  the  people  decided,  “Koho  is  the  source  of  those 
things/’  And  he  was  allowed  to  inherit. 


TALE  6 

Tortoise  Covers  His  Ignorance 
Persons 


Kudu  (Tortoise)  Nj£  (Leopard) 

Iheli  (Gazelle)  A Vine 


NOTE 

It  is  customary  for  men  to  do  some  service  for  their  fathers 
and  mothers-in-law. 


Tortoise  arose  and  went  to  the  town  of  his  father-in-law 
Leopard.  Leopard  sent  him  on  an  errand,  saying,  “Go, 
and  cut  for  me  utamba-mwa-Iv&ta.  ” (The  fiber  of  a vine 
is  used  for  making  nets.) 

Then  he  went.  But,  while  he  still  remembered  the  object, 
he  forgot  the  name  of  the  kind  of  Vine  that  was  used  for  that 
purpose.  And  he  was  ashamed  to  confess  his  ignorance. 
So,  he  came  back  to  call  the  people  of  the  town,  and  said, 
“ Come  ye  and  help  me ! I have  enclosed  Iheli  in  a thicket.  ” 

The  people  came,  and  at  once  they  made  a circle  around 
the  spot.  But  when  they  closed  in,  they  saw  no  beasts 
there. 

Then  Tortoise  called  out,  “Let  someone  of  you  cut  for 
me,  utamba-mwa-Ivata.  ” (As  if  that  was  the  only  thing 
needed  to  catch  the  animal  which  he  had  said  was  there.) 

Thereupon,  his  brother-in-law  cut  for  him  a vine  which 
he  brought  to  him,  saying,  “Here  is  an  Ihenga  vine  which 
we  use  for  making  nets.”  Whereupon  Tortoise  exclaimed, 
“Is  it  possible  that  it  was  the  Ihenga  vine  that  I mistook?” 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


239 


TALE  7 

A Question  as  to  Age 
Persons 

Asanze  (A  Shrike)  Kudu  (Tortoise) 

( Njaba  (Civet) 

And  other  Animals  l Uhingi  (Genet) 
tEdubu  (Snake) 


NOTE 

Differences  in  age  as  revealed  by  differences  in  taste  for 
food. 


Shrike  was  a blacksmith.  So,  all  the  Beasts  went  to  the 
forge  at  his  town.  Each  day,  when  they  had  finished  at  the 
anvil,  they  took  all  their  tools  and  laid  them  on  the  ground 
(as  pledges).  Before  they  should  go  back  to  their  towns, 
they  would  say  to  the  Bird,  “Show  us  which  is  the  eldest, 
and  then  you  give  us  the  things,  if  you  are  able  to  decide 
our  question.  ” 

He  looked  at  and  examined  them;  but  he  did  not  know, 
for  they  were  all  apparently  of  the  same  age;  and  they  went 
away  empty-handed,  leaving  their  tools  as  a challenge. 
Every  day  it  was  that  same  way. 

On  another  day,  Tortoise  being  a friend  of  the  Bird, 
started  to  go  to  work  for  him  at  the  bellows.  Also,  he  cooked 
three  bundles  of  food;  one  of  Civet  with  the  entrails  of  a red 
Antelope;  and  one  of  Genet;  and  one  of  an  Edubu-Snake. 
(Suited  for  different  tastes  and  ages.)  Then  he  blew  at  the 
bellows. 

When  the  others  were  hungry  at  meal  time,  Tortoise  took 
up  the  jomba-bundles;  and  he  said,  “Come  ye!  take  up  this 
jomba  of  Njaba  with  the  entrails,  and  eat.”  (They  were 
the  old  ones  who  chose  to  come  and  eat  it.) 

Again  Tortoise  said,  “Come  ye!  take  up  the  jomba  of 


240 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Uhingi.”  (They  were  the  younger  men  who  chose  to  pick 
it  up  and  eat  it.) 

He  then  took  up  the  jomba  of  the  Snake.  And  he  said, 
“Come  ye!  and  take  of  the  jomba  of  Edubu.”  (Those  who 
took  it  were  the  youngest.) 

After  awhile  they  all  finished  their  work  at  the  bellows. 
They  still  left  their  tools  lying  on  the  ground,  and  came 
near  to  the  Bird,  and  they  said,  as  on  other  occasions,  “Show 
us  who  is  the  eldest.’’ 

Then  Tortoise  at  the  request  of  the  Bird,  announced  the 
decision,  as  if  it  was  its  own,  “Ye  who  ate  of  the  Nj&M  are 
the  ones  who  are  oldest;  ye  who  ate  of  Uhingi  are  the  ones 
who  are  younger  men;  and  ye  who  ate  of  the  Edubu  are  the 
ones  who  are  the  youngest.  ” 

So,  they  assented  to  the  decision,  and  took  away  their 
belongings. 


TALE  8 

Abundance:  A Play  on  the  Meaning  of  a Word 
Persons 

A Hunter;  Man  Bwinge  (Abundance,  or 

Mbindi  (Wild  Goat)  “More”) 

A Dwarf,  with  Magic-Power  Ngweya  (Hog) 

Ungumba  (Riches) 

NOTE 

The  Man’s  patience  finally  brought  to  him  the  Plenty 
which  was  promised  him. 

“Bwinge”  might  be  the  name  of  a person  or  of  a thing; 
or,  it  could  be  the  “abundance”  for  which  the  hunter  hoped. 


There  was  a certain  Man  who  was  very  poor;  he  had  no 
goods  with  which  to  buy  a wife.  He  went  one  day  into  the 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


241 


forest  to  set  snares.  On  the  morrow,  he  went  off  to  examine 
them;  and  found  a Wild-Goat  caught  in  the  snares.  He 
rejoiced  and  said,  “I  must  eat  Mbindi  today!” 

But  the  Wild-Goat  said  to  that  Man,  “Let  me  alone, 
Bwinge  is  coming  after  awhile.  ” 

So,  the  Man,  thinking  that  “Bwinge”  was  the  name  of 
some  other  and  more  desirable  animal,  at  once  let  the  Wild- 
Goat  loose,  and  went  off  to  his  town.  On  the  next  day,  the 
Man  went  to  examine  the  snare,  to  see  whether  Bwinge  was 
there,  and  found  Hog  caught  fast  in  the  net.  And  he  ex- 
claimed, “I  must  eat  Ngweya  today!” 

But  the  Hog  said,  “Let  me  go.  Bwinge  is  coming.” 
The  man  at  once  left  the  Hog,  (still  thinking  that  many  more 
were  coming) ; and  it  went  away. 

The  Man  wondered,  and  said  to  himself,  “What  Thing  is  it 
that  is  named  ‘Bwinge’?” 

On  another  day,  he  went  to  set  his  snare.  He  found 
there  a dwarf  child  of  a Human  Being;  and,  in  anger,  he 
said,  “You  are  the  one  who  has  caused  me  to  send  away  the 
beasts?  Is  it  possible  that  you  are  he  who  is  ‘Bwinge’? 
I shall  kill  you.”  But  the  dwarf  said,  “No!  don’t  kill  me. 
I will  call  Ungumba  for  you.”  So,  the  Man  said,  “Call  in 
a hurry ! ” 

The  Dwarf  ordered,  “Let  guns  come!”  And  they  at 
once  came.  (This  was  done  by  the  Dwarf’s  Magic-Power.) 
The  Man  again  said,  “Call,  in  a hurry!”  The  Dwarf  called 
for  women;  and  they  came.  The  Man  again  said  to  him, 
“Call  for  Goats,  in  a hurry!”  And  they  came,  with  abund- 
ance of  other  things. 

Then  the  Man  freed  him,  and  said  to  him,  “ Go ! ” 

The  Man  also  went  his  way  with  his  riches.  And  he 
became  a great  man.  This  was  because  of  his  patient 
waiting. 


242 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


TALE  9 

An  Oath,  With  a Mental  Reservation 
Persons 


Ibembe  (Dove)  Nje  (Leopard) 

Ngando  (Crocodile) 

NOTE 

Covenants  among  natives  are  made  under  oath,  by  the 
two  parties  eating  together  of  some  fetish-mixture,  called  a 
“Medicine”;  which,  being  connected  with  some  Spirit,  is 
supposed  to  be  able  to  punish  any  infraction  of  the  covenant. 

Because  Dove  “abused”  Leopard,  that  is,  deceived  him, 
the  dove  no  longer  builds  its  nest  on  the  ground,  through 
fear  of  leopards. 


Dove  was  building  in  a tree-trunk  by  a river,  because  it 
preferred  to  walk  on  the  ground.  And  Crocodile  just  then 
emerged  from  the  river  to  the  bank,  and  lay  on  his  log  where 
he  usually  rested. 

They  two  said,  “Let  us  eat  a Medicine-charm.” 

So,  Dove  agreed,  and  swore,  saying,  “I  say  to  you  that, 
when  anything  at  all  shall  happen  openly,  if  I do  not  tell  it 
to  you,  then  may  this  Medicine  find  me  out  and  kill  me.” 
Crocodile  also  uttered  his  oath,  “When  whatever  thing  shall 
come  out  from  the  river  onto  the  ground,  if  I do  not  tell  it 
to  you,  this  Medicine  must  find  me  out  and  kill  me!” 

When  they  had  finished  their  Covenant,  Crocodile  returned 
to  his  hollow  in  the  ground  by  the  river.  Dove  also  arose, 
and  went  away,  walking  to  his  place.  Then  he  and  Leopard 
suddenly  met,  on  the  path. 

Leopard  asked,  “Are  you  able  to  see  Ngando  for  me?  I 
want  to  eat  it. ” Dove  answered,  “Ah!  would  that  you  and 
I were  living  in  one  place  with  an  Agreement!”  Leopard 
replied,  “Come  then!  let  us,  I and  you,  eat  a Medicine.” 

So  Leopard  began.  He  said  as  his  oath:  “Anything  at 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


243 


all  that  shall  come  to  my  place  where  I dwell,  if  I be  there, 
and  it  wants  to  get  hold  of  you,  if  I tell  it  not  to  you,  let 
this  Medicine  find  and  certainly  kill  me!”  Dove  also  with 
his  oath,  said,  “If  I see  Ngando,  and  I do  not  tell  you,  let 
this  Medicine  find  me  and  certainly  kill  me!” 

So,  they  made  their  promise;  then  they  separated;  and 
each  one  went  to  his  own  village. 

Thus  Dove  and  Leopard  ate  their  kind  of  “Medicine,” 
after  Dove  and  Crocodile  had  already  eaten  theirs. 

Then,  one  day,  Crocodile  came  out  from  the  river.  Dove 
at  once  began  to  tell  Leopard,  saying,  “He  has  emerged 
from  the  river  and  is  about  to  settle  on  the  log!”  So,  Leo- 
pard began  slowly  to  come,  and  watching  Crocodile,  as  he 
came.  When  he  was  near,  in  his  advance,  Dove  spoke, 
telling  Crocodile,  and  said,  “Your  watcher!  Your  watcher 
is  coming!  Do  not  apprach  here!” 

Thereat,  Crocodile  slipped  back  into  the  water. 

The  next  time  that  Dove  and  Leopard  met,  Leopard 
demanded,  “What  is  this  you  have  done  to  me?  You  swore 
to  me  this:  ‘If  I see  Crocodile  I will  tell  you;  and  you  must 
come  catch  him.  ’ Now,  as  soon  as  you  saw  me,  you  turned 
around,  and  told  Crocodile,  ‘Fall  into  the  River!’  You 
have  mocked  me!” 

And  Leopard  grew  very  angry. 


TALE  10 

The  Treachery  of  Tortoise 
Persons 

Mb&ma  (Boa  Constrictor)  Kudu  (Tortoise) 

Nje  (Leopard) 

NOTE 

Observe  the  cannibalism  of  the  story. 

Leopard  married  a wife.  After  awhile  she  was  about  to 
become  a mother. 


244 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Boa  also  married  a wife;  and,  after  awhile,  she  also,  was 
about  to  become  a mother. 

In  a short  time,  like  the  drinking  of  a draught  of  water, 
the  month  passed,  both  for  Leopard’s  wife  and  for  Boa’s 
wife  also.  Then  Boa’s  wife  said,  “It  is  time  for  the  birth!” 
So  she  gave  birth  to  a child.  And  she  lay  down  on  her 
mother’s  bed.  When  they  were  about  to  cook  food  for  her, 
she  said,  “I  want  to  eat  nothing  but  Nje!” 

The  next  day,  the  wife  of  Leopard  said,  “It  is  time  for  the 
birth!”  And  she  also  gave  birth  to  a child.  Food  was 
given  to  her.  But  she  said,  “I  am  wanting  only  Mbama!” 

When  told  of  his  wife’s  wish,  Boa  said,  “What  shall  I do? 
Where  shall  I go?  Where  shall  I find  Mangwata?”  (A 
nickname  for  Leopard.)  Also,  Leopard  said,  in  regard  to 
his  wife’s  wish,  “Where  shall  I find  Mbama?”  Then  Leo- 
pard went  walking,  on  and  on,  and  looking.  He  met  with 
Manima-ma-Evosolo  (a  nickname  for  Tortoise).  Leopard 
asked  him,  “Can  you  catch  me  Mbama?”  Manima  said, 
“What’s  that?”  And  he  laughed,  Kye!  Kye!  Kye;  and 
said,  “That  is  as  easy  as  play.”  Leopard  said,  “Chum, 
please  do  such  a thing  for  me.”  And  Tortoise  said,  “Very 
good ! ” 

When  they  separated,  and  Tortoise  was  about  to  go  a 
little  further  on  ahead,  at  once  he  met  with  Boa.  And  Boa 
asked  him,  “Chum!  Manima-ma-Evosolo!  Where  have  you 
come  from?”  Tortoise  answered,  “I  have  come,  going  on 
an  excursion.”  Boa  asked  to  Tortoise,  “But,  could  you 
catch  me  Nje? ” He  replied,  “That  is  a little  thing.  ” Then 
Boa  begged  him,  “Please,  since  my  wife  has  born  a child, 
she  has  not  eaten  anything.  She  says  she  wants  to  eat  only 
Nje.” 

Tortoise  returned  back  at  once  to  his  village.  He  called 
to  the  people  of  his  village,  saying,  “Come  ye!  to  make  for 
me  a pit.”  They  at  once  went,  and  dug  a pit.  When  they 
had  finished  it,  Tortoise  went  to  Leopard,  and  said  to  him, 
“Come  on! 

Leopard  at  once  started  on  the  journey  (thinking  he  was 
going  to  get  Boa).  When  they  came  to  the  place  of  the  pit, 
Leopard  fell  suddenly  into  it  headlong,  volomu!  He  called 
to  Tortoise,  saying,  “Chum!  Where  is  Mbama?”  (Leo- 
pard did  not  understand  that  he  was  being  deceived.) 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


245 


Tortoise  did  not  reply,  but  started  off  clear  to  the  village 
of  Boa.  He  said  to  Boa,  “Come  on!”  Boa  did  not  doubt 
at  all  that  he  was  going  to  get  Leopard.  He  started,  and 
went  with  Tortoise  towards  the  pit.  When  he  was  passing 
near  the  spot,  Boa  fell  headlong  into  the  pit,  volumu!  And 
Leopard  exclaimed,  “Ah!  now,  what  is  this?” 

Tortoise  only  said  to  them,  “You  yourselves  can  kill  each 
other.  ” 


TALE  11 

A Chain  of  Circumstances 
Persons 

Etanda  (Cockroach)  Uhingi  (Genet) 

Kudu  (Tortoise)  Nje  (Leopard) 

Kuba  (Chicken)  A Man 


NOTE 

A Cause,  from  which  came  the  enmity  between  Leopards, 
and  other  wild  animals,  and  Mankind. 

Observe  the  resemblance  to  “The  House  that  Jack 
Built.” 


Tortoise  was  a blacksmith,  and  allowed  other  people  to 
use  his  bellows.  Cockroach  had  a spear  that  was  known  of 
by  all  people  and  things.  One  day,  he  went  to  the  smithy 
at  the  village  of  Tortoise.  When  he  started  to  work  the 
bellows,  as  he  looked  out  in  the  street,  he  saw  Chicken  com- 
ing; and  he  said  to  Tortoise,  “I’m  afraid  of  Kuba,  that  he 
will  catch  me.  What  shall  I do?”  So  Tortoise  told  him, 
“Go!  and  hide  yourself  off  there  in  the  grass.”  At  once  he 
hid  himself. 

Then  arrived  Chicken,  and  he,  observing  a spear  lying 
on  the  ground,  asked  Tortoise,  “Is  not  this  Etanda’s  Spear?” 


246 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


Tortoise  assented,  “Yes,  do  you  want  him?”  And  Chicken 
said,  “Yes,  where  is  he?”  So  Tortoise  said,  “He  hid  him- 
self in  the  grass  on  the  ground  yonder;  catch  him.”  Then 
Chicken  went  and  caught  Cockroach,  and  swallowed  him. 

When  Chicken  was  about  to  go  away  to  return  to  his 
place,  Tortoise  said  to  him,  “Come  back!  work  for  me  this 
fine  bellows!”  As  Chicken,  willing  to  return  a favor,  was 
about  to  stand  at  it,  he  looked  around  and  saw  Genet  com- 
ing in  the  street.  Chicken  said  to  Tortoise,  “Alas!  I’m 
afraid  that  Uhingi  will  see  me,  where  shall  I go?”  So, 
Tortoise  says,  “Go!  and  hide!”  Chicken  did  so.  When 
Genet  came,  he,  seeing  the  spear,  asked,  “Is  it  not  so  that 
this  is  Etanda’s  Spear?”  Tortoise  replied,  “Yes.”  Genet 
asked  him,  “Where  is  Etanda?”  He  replied,  “Chicken 
has  swallowed  him.”  Genet  inquired,  “And  where  is 
Chicken?”  Tortoise  showed  him  the  place  where  Chicken 
was  hidden.  And  Genet  went  and  caught  and  ate  Chicken. 

When  Genet  was  about  to  go,  Tortoise  called  to  him,  “No! 
come!  to  work  this  fine  bellows.”  Genet  set  to  work;  but, 
when  he  looked  into  the  street,  he  hesitated;  for,  he  saw 
Leopard  coming.  Genet  said  to  Tortoise,  “I  must  go, 
lest  Nje  should  see  me!”  Then  Tortoise  said,  “Go!  and 
hide  in  the  grass.”  So,  Genet  hid  himself  in  the  grass. 

Leopard,  having  arrived  and  wondering  about  the  Spear, 
asked  Tortoise,  “ Is  it  not  so  that  this  is  the  Spear  of  Etanda?” 
Tortoise  answered,  “Yes.”  Then  Leopard  asked,  “Where 
is  Etanda?”  Tortoise  replied,  “Kuba  has  swallowed  him.” 
“And,  where  is  Kuba?”  Tortoise  answered,  “Uhingi  has 
eaten  him.  ” Then  Leopard  asked,  “ Where  then  is  Uhingi?  ” 
Tortoise  asked,  “Do  you  want  him?  Go  and  catch  him! 
He  is  hidden  yonder  there.”  Then  Leopard  caught  and 
killed  Genet. 

Leopard  was  going  away,  but  Tortoise  told  him,  “Wait! 
come!  to  work  this  fine  bellows.  ” When  Leopard  was  about 
to  comply,  he  looked  around  the  street,  and  he  saw  a Human 
Being  coming  with  a gun  carried  on  his  shoulder.  Leopard 
exclaimed,  “ Kudu-0 ! I do  not  want  to  see  a Man,  let  me  go ! ” 
Then  Tortoise  said  to  him,  “ Go ! and  hide.  ” Leopard  did  so. 

When  the  Man  had  come,  and  he  saw  the  Spear  of  Cock- 
roach, he  inquired,  “Is  it  not  so  that  this  is  Cockroach’s 
wonderful  Spear?”  Tortoise  answered,  “Yes.” 


WHERE  ANIMALS  TALK 


247 


And  the  Man  asked,  “Where  then  is  Cockroach ?”  Tor- 
toise answered,  “Kuba  has  swallowed  him.” 

Man  asked,  “And  where  is  Chicken? ” Tortoise  answered, 
“Uhingi  has  eaten  him.” 

Man  asked,  “And  where  is  Genet?”  Tortoise  answered, 
“Nje  has  killed  him.” 

Man  asked,  “And  where  is  Leopard?”  Tortoise  did  not 
at  once  reply;  and  Man  asked  again,  “Where  is  Leopard?” 
The  Tortoise  said,  “Do  you  want  him?  Go!  and  catch  him. 
He  had  hidden  himself  over  there.  ” 

Then  the  Man  went  and  shot  Leopard, 

Who  had  killed  Genet, 

Who  had  eaten  Chicken, 

Who  had  swallowed  Cockroach, 

Who  owned  the  wonderful  Spear, 

At  the  smithy  of  Tortoise. 


INDEX 

of  Names  of  Animals,  etc.,  among  Certain  Tribes  on  the  West  African  Equator. 


248  INDEX 


250  INDEX 


